Nyatanga signed a new 4-year contract in the summer of 2007, and returned to Barnsley on a six-month loan shortly after. He formed an impressive partnership with Dennis Souza at the heart of Barnsley's defence, but was recalled by Derby in January 2008. On 19 January 2008, Nyatanga scored on his Premier League debut at Portsmouth in the 5th minute, which gave Derby a 1–0 lead, though Derby went on to lose the game 3–1 after a Benjani hat-trick. That was to be his only Premier League game of the season and his first of only 3 appearances for Derby that season, as he was sent back out on loan to Barnsley for the remainder of the 2007–8 season.