Derby County has signed United States striker Patrick Agyemang from Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC for a fee that could reach £7.3 million.

The 24-year-old, whose transfer fee before add-ons is estimated to be around £5.8 million, joins Pride Park on a four-year contract just over a week after starting for the USA in their Gold Cup final defeat to Mexico.

However, in a statement confirming his arrival, the Rams stated that Agyemang will have “routine” surgery on a long-standing hernia problem, which means he is “likely to miss the opening games” of the Championship season.

Agyemang scored 17 goals in 59 MLS regular-season appearances for Charlotte, who took him with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft from the University of Rhode Island.

Within two years, he was called up by USA manager Mauricio Pochettino, and since scoring on his international debut in January, Agyemang has four more goals in 11 appearances.

Agyemang is Derby’s second striker signed for a significant fee this summer, though the fee for Luton forward Carlton Morris was not disclosed.

However, with the American’s price tag potentially exceeding £7 million with add-ons, he becomes the most expensive signing the East Midlands club has made since David Clowes purchased the club when it was in administration in 2022.

Although Derby has not officially disclosed the price paid for Agyemang, Charlotte claims to have received a club-record “multi-million-dollar” fee and will retain a sell-on percentage.

“Patrick’s rise over the past 18 months put him on the radar of many clubs across Europe, and ultimately Derby County’s offer convinced the club and player to reach an agreement,” Zoran Krneta, Charlotte’s general manager, said.

“To complete a transaction, it must be in the best interests of both the club and the player, and in this case, it meets both requirements. “He becomes the first player in our club’s history to come through our player pathway and be sold in a multi-million-dollar transfer.”