Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings you a look at the midfielder who is set to be the Rams' first addition of the January transfer window
12:46, 31 Dec 2025
Derby County are set to clinch the signing of midfielder Oscar Fraulo in what is set to be their first deal of the January transfer window.
The Rams will pay a six-figure compensation fee for the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder, who will put pen to paper on a contract until 2029.
He is seen as a player who can be developed and it is unlikely he will be thrown straight into the team given he has only played 40 minutes of football this season.
But what will he bring to Derby once the move is finalised? Here, DerbyshireLive takes a closer look at a midfielder who has attracted interest from clubs in Europe.
Where is he from?
Born in Denmark, the midfielder has family roots in Italy. He turned 22 earlier this month. His brother Gustav is also a midfielder who plays for Lyngby Boldklub.
What's his background?
Fraulo began his footballing education at OKS in Odense, where he spent his early years before moving on to Midtjylland at the age of 13.
He rose through the ranks of their youth system before eventually going on to make his first-team bow in a Champions League qualifying game against PSV Eindhoven.
A year later, he was heading to the German side Borussia Monchengladbach, where he initially played with their second team.
He was subsequently sent out on loan to Utrecht in the Eredivisie, where he spent two years on loan.
In his first season, he played 36 games in all competitions, scoring three goals and registering four assists.
In the following campaign, he then played another 30 games for Utrecht and scored three goals and created the same number of goals.
He returned to Monchengladbach, where he has made five appearances this season, scoring a goal against St Pauli.
What type of player is he?
He is described as a number eight, a box-to-box midfielder who was highly regarded in Denmark, having featured for the national team in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
In October last year, he scooped the Johan Cruyff talent of the month award for his performances.
He stood out offensively, creating six chances from open play and achieving an 86.3% passing accuracy in the opposition’s half. Defensively, he also made a strong impact during that month, averaging 7.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.
Since returning to Germany, he hasn't been able to secure a regular first-team place in the Bundesliga, but he is still young and a player who can clearly be developed.
What about previous interest?
In the summer of 2024, when Fraulo returned to Utrecht, there was speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.
At the time of his move back to Utrecht, he said: “I had more options, but it quickly became clear to me that Utrecht would be the best choice for me."
It wasn't long before Derby looked to sign Fraulo in January of this year, but their bids were rejected.
However, given that he is approaching the final few months of his contract, Derby's persistence has paid off at a significantly lower price than they were prepared to pay just 12 months ago.
Grounding
Fraulo enjoys grounding, which involves walking barefoot, something he did regularly around the training ground at Utrecht.
Those who practise it claim that direct skin contact with the Earth's surface allows for the absorption of natural electric energy, which is said to offer health benefits.
Talking to VL, Fraulo said: "I just love grounding myself.
“Walking barefoot makes me feel good. It's good for your body. We weren't born wearing shoes. I even have special barefoot shoes with more room for your feet, so there's less pressure on them. In boots, you always feel that pressure. That's why I love to take them off after training and go grounding."
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