Former Town striker David McGoldrick has rejoined his first club Notts County on a two-year deal after turning down the offer of a new contract at Derby County.

McGoldrick, 35, came through the academy at Meadow Road and made his debut for his hometown club aged 16 but after only two starts and two sub appearances was quickly snapped up by then-Premier League Southampton.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who scored 25 times for the League One Rams during 2022/23, was with the Blues between January 2013 and the summer of 2018, initially on loan from Nottingham Forest, scoring 45 goals in 126 starts and 33 sub appearances.

“We’re over the moon to welcome someone of David’s immense quality and experience,” the Magpies, who were promoted back to League Two last month, wrote in a statement on their website.

“He joins us on the back of his best-ever goalscoring season, but anyone who’s followed his career knows his talents extend far beyond his ability in front of goal.

“David’s an incredibly intelligent and intricate footballer who also boasts tremendous physicality, so we believe he can be hugely effective in a number of attacking roles.

“He’s been a leader and top professional at several big clubs, including recently in the Premier League with Sheffield United, and we believe his know-how and willingness to impart knowledge on to younger players will be invaluable.

“As you would suspect, David hasn’t made this decision for financial reasons. His love and respect for the club have brought him home and he’s going to be a talismanic figure as we commence this exciting new chapter.”

McGoldrick admitted it was a difficult decision to exit Pride Park after only one season.

“It has been a difficult decision for me to leave Derby County, but it has been a huge ambition of mine to play for Notts County again before the end of my career,” he told the Rams official website.

“I’ve been honest and open with both [manager] Paul Warne and the club about it in recent weeks and they’ve been supportive and understanding.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that I had the chance to return to Notts, it would have been a no-brainer to stay at Derby - regardless of interest from any other club.

“I really enjoyed working under the gaffer and his staff, playing alongside the lads and, of course, performing in front of the brilliant fans at Pride Park. I want to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome in the last year.

“I had a wonderful season with Derby and to score 25 goals and three hat-tricks made it such an enjoyable time, the best in terms of goals for me personally in the season, and actually made the decision such a difficult one.

“I’ve had many conversations with the gaffer over the last few weeks and he really did do everything he could to keep me at Derby but, in the end, I have decided to go with my heart and return to Notts.”

Photo: Matchday Images

emergencylime added 16:13 - Jun 10 In it for the love of the game, can't knock that.
13

Bazza8564 added 16:17 - Jun 10 Good lad, wish him well there
7

wellhungphil added 16:17 - Jun 10 Roy of the Rovers stuff! Here's hoping he knocks in a goal a game for Notts County!
6

Suffolkboy added 16:18 - Jun 10 In todays materialistic environment how good is it to see D M allowing altruistic feelings to decide his immediate future ! Well done David M ! COYB
6

cressi added 16:37 - Jun 10 Well done David at last a player not after the pound note obviously put his affection first not like a certain Lionel Messi who of course loves Barcelona .
1

Linkboy13 added 17:01 - Jun 10 What a great signing for Notts county thought he looked way too good for league one. Derby's most dangerous player against us in both games.
5

NthQldITFC added 17:13 - Jun 10 Can only add to the comments above. It's heartwarming to see someone make a decision based on love for the game and the club, not the money. Goodonya Didzy, I wish you the very, very best. Top player, top man.
4

Gforce added 17:14 - Jun 10 Perhaps Mings,Cresswell and Webster will all come back to us,I'm sure they won't mind taking a pay cut to play for their beloved Ipswich !
1

Monkey_Blue added 18:02 - Jun 10 PHIL!! Meadow Road? I'm born and bred in Nottingham… but don't need to be to know it's Lane 😉
3

Freddies_Ears added 19:10 - Jun 10 If he stays fit, he's a shoo-in for League 2 POTY.
0

TractorfactorSteve added 20:55 - Jun 10 How about a last munute winner against the Hollywood mercenaries?
1

itfchorry added 22:33 - Jun 10 Top Mam and Top Player - All the best you DM -
0

Europablue added 22:42 - Jun 10 Gforce, we might overtake all of their clubs
0

barrystedmunds added 01:05 - Jun 11 At 35 it must be a great position to be in: your final swan song with your hometown club. Always looked out for him after he left and it became a bit of an irritation that he always appeared to retain his fitness at Sheffield and Derby given his record with us. But like the Murphy's, I'm not bitter.
1

EatonBlue added 01:53 - Jun 11 Return of the Mack
0

peewee added 09:00 - Jun 11 He might be a good player but tbh he never wanted to play for us. He was only available when internationals where coming up or transfer market was opening up. Lived over 3 hours away zero commitment to town
2

tractorboybig added 09:54 - Jun 11 biggest waste of space to wear our shirt
-7

BlueWax added 10:42 - Jun 11 Great player and good on him for choosing NC given the love he has for them. I do have to agree with others on here questioning his commitment to Town! I'm sure his best mate was Darren Anderton!
1

warktheline added 10:52 - Jun 11 @tractorboybig, there's more to your sentiments…when Mcgoldrick left Portman Rd , he alongside others, exposed the culture and work ethics under the ownership of Evans! There wasn't any pressure on the players to win or even play! McCarthy stated, Evans had no ambition or desire for the club and was happy at the time to linger in the depths of the Championship! Such impetus filtered its way throughout the club. Our current dynamic owners recently highlighted the club had been in decline on every level! Absolutely shameful how some still excuse Evans's toxic era !

5

Churchman added 13:42 - Jun 11 Top player, top bloke. He was worth the entrance money alone when he was with us. Good luck to him and Notts County next season.
2

Fatboy added 14:24 - Jun 11 There can't be many players who have played for Forest, Derby and Notts County! Great signing for a League Two club as he had my vote for League One Player of the Season (excluding Town players).
0

tractorboybig added 15:38 - Jun 11 warktheline....we refused to sell him to a premier club he threw his toys out of the pram became an unprofessional tp
2

ThaiBlue added 19:25 - Jun 11 Who cares he never gave a toss about Town big sicknote.
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Ebantiass added 20:18 - Jun 12 Like to echo the vast majority of comments and wish him well in his new adventure back where he started.
0

DocMartyn added 10:20 - Jun 13 @barrystedmunds When he was playing for us apparently he was constantly in his car backwards and forwards between Ipswich and his family in Notts, which can't have helped with fitness....
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