Derby County sign former Celtic defender Efe Ambrose to boost Premier League promotion bid

Ambrose joins from Hibernian, where he had rescinded his contract

Efe Ambrose, 30, has signed for Derby. He was most recently at Hibernian (Getty Images)

Derby County have signed former Celtic defender Efe Ambrose to boost their late-season bid for promotion to the Premier League.

Ambrose activated a clause in his Hibernian contract that allowed him to leave the club for free after a number of Championship clubs expressed an interest in signing him.

The Nigerian centre-back had been training with Frank Lampard's Rams over the past few weeks, and spent much of his career at Celtic where he won four Premiership titles, the Scottish Cup and the League Cup.

Counting on his Champions League experience, Lampard hopes that Ambrose can add quality to his squad.

"I had other offers from abroad so when my agent called me and said Derby were interested and they had put an offer to us, with Lampard, I said there is no second choice," Ambrose told RamsTV.

"I've known Lampard since he was at Chelsea as a player, and he has been my hero and someone I've always enjoyed watching play football. He is a legend.

"For me to come and have the opportunity to play under him is a great honour and I didn't think twice to come."

Ambrose added: "I know the ambition what Frank Lampard wants for this club so for me, that is a motivation.

"Every player wants to make a mark and I want to do the best I can do to give back to the club.

"All I can do to make sure we are in the top six, the play-offs, or the coaches have said, automatic promotion, which is the best to put into the spirit of the players.

"I want to prove myself and make sure to repay his trust in me and that is why I'm here."

Lampard believes Ambrose can prove a positive addition to the squad.

"We've had the chance to take a look at Efe over the last few days and likewise he has been able to see how we work and want to play," the Derby boss said on the club website.

"Efe is an experienced central defender and he gives us another option in that particular area."