Paul Warne is delighted to have secured David Ozoh on loan from Crystal Palace, crediting his relationship with the player’s agent for helping to finalize the move to Derby County.

The Rams brought in the midfielder on a season-long loan, and he made his debut in Wednesday’s 4-0 friendly defeat to Chesterfield. Ozoh made eight Premier League appearances for Palace last season, including an impressive performance in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

Palace holds high hopes for Ozoh, so Warne is pleased that his development will continue at Derby, especially since Ozoh was also linked with Luton Town and others. Warne believes that having previously signed another player from the same agent’s roster was instrumental in securing the deal.

“David was brought to my attention by our recruitment department,” Warne said. “I watched him play for the under-21s several times. He keeps the ball moving, is very athletic, and tenacious. He breaks up play and quickly gets us on the attack. He is similar to Ebou Adams. It’s his first loan, and it’s great that Crystal Palace trusts us with one of their players. Anyone who has played in the Premier League deserves respect.”

Warne added, “David is a humble, down-to-earth kid who will use this loan to grow both as a man and as a player. I spoke to him and his agent. Having worked with one of the agent’s players before, I had a good relationship with him. He knew everything I said about how we treat people was true, which played a significant role in choosing us.”