Owen Eames’ dream came true on Sunday as the Derby County academy graduate made his first-team debut for his boyhood club in the FA Cup against Premier League side Leeds United. The Swadlincote-born midfielder, who has been with the Rams for ten years, came on in the 73rd minute, replacing Patrick Agyemang, and finally stepped […]
Owen Eames’ dream came true on Sunday as the Derby County academy graduate made his first-team debut for his boyhood club in the FA Cup against Premier League side Leeds United.
The Swadlincote-born midfielder, who has been with the Rams for ten years, came on in the 73rd minute, replacing Patrick Agyemang, and finally stepped onto the pitch for the club he has supported and represented since the age of nine.
Although Derby ultimately lost 3–1 after Leeds came from behind, Eames’ introduction was one of the standout positives of the afternoon. Having trained with the senior squad this season, the teenager was eager to show why there has been a growing buzz around him.
Blessed with the fearlessness of youth, he pressed aggressively, won a couple of free-kicks, and even completed a 70-yard sprint to try to stop a Leeds counter-attack.
In limited time, Eames demonstrated his ability to read the game, linking passes, finding space in advanced positions, and supporting teammates both offensively and defensively.
His energy, composure, and willingness to take responsibility made a strong impression on fans and coaching staff alike.
Eames’ debut was the latest milestone in a long and impressive academy journey. He has been with Derby County since Under-9s, moving up through each stage of the academy before stepping into the Under-18s as a first-year scholar in summer 2023, a natural progression for a player the club had developed from a young age.
He went on to sign professional terms in 2025, cementing his place as one of the club’s most promising homegrown talents.
A central midfielder who prefers a more advanced role, Eames has steadily developed the skills, energy, and composure that have marked him out as one to watch.
In the 2022/23 season, he made seven appearances for the Under-18s, scoring once. He became a consistent presence in 2023/24, featuring 23 times across all competitions.
His most productive campaign came in 2024/25, when he recorded 10 goals and eight assists from 19 league games for the Under-18s.
That form earned him regular minutes with the Under-21s in Premier League 2, as well as involvement with the senior squad as an unused substitute, before finally being handed his first-team debut.
Eames combines energy, tactical intelligence, and attacking instinct, making him stand out during his academy years and give the fans a taste of what he could bring to the senior team.
Derby head coach John Eustace told Eames to ‘enjoy himself’ before coming on and praised the teenager afterwards:
“It’s great for the academy, he deserves it. He has been fantastic when he has joined the group. I am delighted we gave him his debut.
“He is a really confident boy. He is very energetic, lots of enthusiasm. He has got a real good chance.
“If you look at my managerial record, I have done it at all the clubs I have been at and I love bringing through our own players.Eamsey is no different, and there are two or three that are really pushing and knocking on the door and hopefully that will inspire them a little bit to get in our plans.”
While Derby’s FA Cup exit was confirmed by Leeds’ quality, Eames’ lively cameo offered a glimpse of the future and underlined the club’s commitment to developing homegrown talent.
For Eames, it was a dream realised. For Derby County, it may be the first chapter in a promising first-team career for one of their own.
Sunday afternoon at Pride Park was a memorable one for Derby County, as the club celebrated two first-team debuts in the same FA Cup clash against Premier League side Leeds United.
While Owen Eames earned his maiden senior appearance for his boyhood club, it was new signing Oscar Fraulo who also stepped onto the pitch, making his first outing since his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Fraulo, a 22-year-old Danish midfielder, had not played a competitive match since November, but his introduction into the Derby side was always planned with care.
Head coach John Eustace confirmed that Fraulo’s debut was intended to last just 45 minutes, allowing the youngster to ease into first-team football after a brief week of training with the Rams.
Despite being booked early in the match, Fraulo impressed with his energy, composure, and tactical awareness.
He played a key part in helping Derby maintain a 1-0 lead at half-time, showcasing the qualities that persuaded the club to secure his transfer.
The Danish midfielder won several tackles, made incisive passes, and displayed a level of understanding of Eustace’s game plan that belied his short time with the squad.
As expected, Fraulo did not return for the second half, with Ebou Adams replacing him, but Eustace was full of praise for his performance.
“It was definitely a cap on his minutes,” Eustace said. “The lad hasn’t played for a long time, and he has been with us for maybe a week training.
“He is ahead of schedule. I was delighted to give him his first 45 minutes, and I thought he did really well. I think his energy stood out, he found a pass, won a couple of tackles in there as well, there’s obviously a lot more to come. Tactically, he was very aware of what we wanted to do, so it was pleasing.”
With Eames’ lively cameo and Fraulo’s controlled debut, Derby fans were given plenty of reason to be optimistic, as two exciting midfield talents began their journeys in the Rams’ first team on the same day.
