The uncertainty surrounding Filip Bilbija is over. The attacking player, who has been a free agent since July 1, will not sign a new contract with SCP; instead, he is joining English second-division club Derby County.
“It’s fading with every passing day,” Paderborn’s general manager Sebastian Lange recently said, describing the chances of extending the contract with Filip Bilbija, who was eager to move on. The contract of the 26-year-old forward—who, with 15 goals and three assists, was SCP’s most dangerous attacker in the past second-division season and thus made a decisive contribution to the team’s return to the Bundesliga—had expired on July 1.
Consequently, Paderborn’s top scorer was absent from the start of training. He also did not join the team for the subsequent training camp in Bad Häring, Austria. Despite a decent offer that the promotion hero is said to have received, there had been virtually no indication of a return in recent days, which underscored Lange’s announcement that he would henceforth focus on “other players.”
As of Wednesday evening, it’s now official: Bilbija, who has scored 35 goals in 98 games for the East Westphalian club over the past three years, is no longer with SC Paderborn and has found a new club: The Berlin native is joining English second-division side Derby County. On Wednesday evening, the “Rams” presented their new signing, who has been signed to a three-year contract.
Via Tennis Borussia Berlin and Hertha Zehlendorf, he made the leap to FC Ingolstadt in 2018 and thus entered professional soccer. He played 94 games (14 goals) for the “Schanzer” over three seasons before moving to Hamburger SV (16 games, 1 goal) and, most recently, to Paderborn; now he’s trying his luck abroad for the first time.
Plenty of time before the Bundesliga season opener
At SCP 07, the search for a suitable replacement is likely already in full swing. The schedule isn’t causing the first-division club to panic, though. The club’s management still has plenty of time before the Bundesliga season opener to make improvements on the transfer market. On August 29, Paderborn will celebrate its Bundesliga comeback at FSV Mainz after a six-year absence.
