UK: Zimbabwe international Chirewa joins Derby on loan

UK: Zimbabwe international Chirewa joins Derby on loan

By Derby County News


ENGLAND: Derby County have completed the loan signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tawanda Chirewa.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who has represented Zimbabwe at international level, has joined the Rams on loan for the 2024/25 season from the Premier League outfit.

Chirewa can play in various positions at the top end of the pitch, including out wide and in an advanced midfield role.

He is Derby’s ninth signing of the transfer window, following on from the arrivals of Ben Osborn, Kayden Jackson, Jerry Yates, Kenzo Goudmijn, Ebou Adams, David Ozoh, Rohan Luthra and Jacob Widell Zetterstrom earlier this summer.

Tawanda Chirewa In Profile

Chirewa came through the youth ranks at Ipswich Town and became the second youngest player to appear for the Tractor Boys, at 16 years and 31 days old in November 2019, as a late substitute in an EFL Trophy clash against Colchester United, whilst still a schoolboy.

The forward went on to sign a two-year scholarship and, eventually, professional terms at Portman Road.

Tawanda Chirewa
Tawanda Chirewa

He made two more senior appearances for Ipswich in the 2022/23 season, starting in an EFL Trophy tie against Cambridge United in October 2022 and appearing off the bench in a 4-0 home win over Buxton in the FA Cup the following month.

Chirewa went on to move to Wolves in the summer of 2023, initially linking up with their Under-21s side. He scored five goals in seven appearances in Premier League 2, ahead of stepping up to the senior squad.

He made ten senior appearances for Wolves in the 2023/24 season, appearing in both the Premier League and FA Cup during January 2024.

Chirewa’s first Premier League start came in April of this year, playing 75 minutes in a 2-0 home reverse against Arsenal at Molineux.

On the international stage, Chirewa has earned two international caps for Zimbabwe. He was born in Chelmsford in England but qualifies to play for Zimbabwe.

His international debut came in June in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, before following that up with his first international goal a few days later in a 3-1 loss against South Africa.