Derby County's social media profile grew significantly after they completed the signing of Wayne Rooney earlier this season.

The Rams announced back in August that they had agreed a deal to bring in England's all-time top scorer on a deal in January that would see him become a player-coach.

And, Rooney has made an instant impact on the pitch, with Derby's form picking up considerably since his introduction into the team six weeks ago.

As well as that, The Athletic have highlighted how bringing in the 34-year-old transformed the club off the pitch.

They state that the shirt sales have risen by 30% since Rooney's arrival and there were 7.6m social hits in the 24 hours following the announcement that he had signed. Plus, the Championship side recorded 26,700 new followers across all platforms and the most viewed YouTube video was of Rooney's debut.

The former Manchester United man has scored two goals in eight league games since he started playing and he is set for a reunion against the Red Devils next month in the FA Cup.

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The verdict

This was inevitable when the Rams confirmed the arrival of Rooney as he is still a massive name in football.

Whilst the most important thing is how Rooney performs on the pitch, which has been good so far, this is a great added bonus at a time when increasing your profile and revenue is important to clubs.

Of course, that will increase further if Derby reach the Premier League and that's the aim for Rooney and the team in the coming months.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.