Joe Ledley: Derby County sign Wales midfielder on deal until January

Joe Ledley (right) travelled with Wales in their last qualifier in Moldova, but was not selected to play

Derby County have signed midfielder Joe Ledley on a deal until January.

The Wales international was available to sign for the Rams outside the transfer window as he was a free agent.

The 30-year-old has been without a club since leaving Crystal Palace in June after three years at Selhurst Park.

Ledley had turned down offers from abroad, the former Celtic player saying he had "no idea" where he would end up, but that he was open to playing outside the Premier League.

Wales boss Chris Coleman picked Ledley in the squad for Wales' World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, but he did not feature in either game.

Meanwhile, Derby defender Alex Pearce, 28, has signed a one-year extension to his existing deal.

Academy graduates Mason Bennett, 21, and Callum Guy, 20, have each signed three-year contracts tying them to the club until 2020.

Midfielder Max Bird, who made his Rams debut in the EFL Cup defeat at Barnsley last week, has marked his 17th birthday by signing his first professional deal with the club - also until 2020.

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