Earnshaw has scored 13 times for Wales in 39 appearances (Getty)

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Derby County striker Robert Earnshaw for a fee of �2.65m.

The Welsh international has signed a three-year contract and is boss Colin Calderwood's first summer signing.

Earnshaw, 27, struggled to settle in at Pride Park where he scored just one goal in the Premier League as the Rams were relegated to the Championship.

"It has taken a few weeks but I'm glad everything is done," he said. " I can't wait for the start of the season."

Earnshaw only joined Derby a year ago from Norwich for �3.5m but he made just seven Premier League starts in a dismal campaign.

606: DEBATE WE GOT EARNSHAW, WHAT A FANTASTIC SIGNING, I've got high hopes for him, he could be the 20-goal a season man Forest have been missing in recent years Foresttree7

Unsurprisingly he was thrilled to get the chance to make a fresh start.

"Derby was disappointing but that's the way it goes," Earnshaw told the club's website. "I'm just looking at is as a chapter closed and will learn from it.

"Getting to know Colin Calderwood was important. I wanted to know what he was looking for.

"We had a good, long chat and that was an important factor in my decision in the end."

Forest chairman Nigel Doughty added: "When you look at Robert's record in terms of goals per game he's probably the most successful Championship player.

"Allied with the strikeforce we have, I think we will be a potent goalscoring force next season."

Meanwhile, Forest have announced their second pre-season friendly against Premier League opposition.

They will face Everton at The City Ground on Friday July 25th, just six days before they face Roy Keane's Sunderland.