Sources: Derby County take player on trial after he leaves Rangers
Derby County have taken rising star Alfie Halliwell on trial weeks after he left Rangers, sources have told Football Insider.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper was released by the Glasgow giants in the summer after graduating from the club’s academy.
Now Derby are assessing Halliwell at close quarters before deciding whether to offer him a contract.
Halliwell was sent out on loan last season to Lowland League side Albion Rovers, where he played 23 matches and conceded 57 goals in all competitions.
The youngster is also a Scotland Under 19s international, and has picked up five caps since making his debut in 2025.
If Derby decides to sign Halliwell permanently, he will become the latest player to join the academy this summer.
Previously, the Rams confirmed that additions of Frankie Jones, who moved from Sheffield United and Kean Wren, who joined from Everton.
Derby County aiming to continue rise up Under 21s League
Derby County have no doubt struggled in the Premier League 2 in recent years.
However, there has been a marked improvement in their finishes in the table.
Since they ended the 2023-24 campaign at the foot of the Premier League 2, they have slowly worked their way up the table.
The following season, they finished fourth from bottom, and this was then followed up with a 24th-place finish in the last campaign – another improvement.
Therefore, the Rams will be hoping that Halliwell can help them continue this trend as they look to continue their rise up the Premier League 2.
However, it remains to be seen if Derby sign the young goalkeeper on a permanent deal come the end of his trial.
Who else are Derby looking to sign this summer?
Football Insider has exclusively revealed that Derby County are looking to sign Tommy Watson on loan this summer.
The 20-year-old has been made available by Brighton and Hove Albion after failing to break into their first-team plans.
A number of Championship sides are also in the race, but Derby are hopeful that they will be able to win the race for the winger.
Watson is famous for scoring a stoppage-time winner in the 2025 Playoff Final as Sunderland beat Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley.
Last season, he spent the second half of the campaign at Millwall and made 12 appearances as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.