345 FC midfielder Grace Moss has signed to join Derby County Football Club’s academy, the latest 345 FC player to sign with a professional club.

“Recently I went to England and I trialed at some different academies,” Moss said. “I went to Derby County and I just loved it. I trialed with the Under-15s, which is my age group, and they said, ‘No, we want you to come back with the under-16s and train there.’ So I’m moving back to England with my mum so I can just ultimately try and carry on to achieve my dream and play football.”

Moss joined 345 FC shortly after moving to the Cayman Islands three years ago. After attending a camp, she joined the club and moved up the ranks, ultimately training with the boys and playing with the club’s boys team in the Cayman Islands Football Association U-15 league this season.

“Grace is a great example of how hard work, dedication and having a growth mindset will lead you to where you want to go as a player,” 345 FC coach Peter Reijn said. “We are happy for her and know she’ll do great things.”                                                                                                                                               

Moss said signing with Derby County is the first step toward achieving her dream of being a full-time professional footballer.

“Once… I was asked to sign, I think I was just so relieved at that point because I’ve been (trialing) at different academies and I was like, ‘no, I need to get in,’” she said.

Moss is the latest 345 FC player to agree to join an academy. In November, Teddy West signed to attend the academy of Premier League club Newcastle. In February, Harry Heinicke signed to join the academy at Fleetwood Town, where the club’s first team competes in League Two of the English Football League. Jakub Neveril joined top-level Czech team FC Zlin during the 2021/2022 season and currently plays for the U-19 team.

“This is the club everyone knows, if you want to get better as a footballer, you come to 345,” Moss said.

Derby County Women’s first team played in the FA Women’s National League – Northern Premier Division last season, finishing seventh overall.