Deal finalized for Thorne's participation in the Derby

Derby County Secure Permanent Signing of George Thorne

In a significant move for Derby County, the club has confirmed the permanent signing of midfielder George Thorne from West Bromwich Albion. The four-year deal, now finalized, sees Thorne join Derby on an undisclosed fee.

Thorne, who spent the end of last season on loan at Derby, has been a target for the club throughout the close-season. The acquisition of Thorne, according to Derby's head coach Steve McClaren, is a testament to the club's progress.

The transfer saga began earlier in the year when Thorne handed in two transfer requests during the close-season. West Bromwich Albion initially rejected an initial bid from Derby County last month. However, the circumstances surrounding the transfer led to an agreement, with Derby meeting West Brom's valuation for the player.

Thorne, who made 17 appearances for West Brom in the 2014-2015 season and 12 appearances for Derby in the same season, has shown his potential at both clubs. Notably, Thorne started the Championship play-off final for Derby County against QPR last May.

West Brom technical director Terry Burton stated that Thorne decided his future lies away from the club. Thorne himself has expressed his delight at joining Derby County on a permanent basis, citing the club's ambition and the hard work put into securing the transfer by the club's management.

Steve McClaren is particularly pleased with the acquisition, stating, "George is a quality player and I'm delighted we've managed to secure his signature. A lot of hard work has gone into this, and I'm looking forward to seeing him contribute to our team."

With Thorne now a permanent member of the Derby County squad, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how he will perform in the upcoming season.