Lyndon Lloyd 03/02/2025 16comments  |  Jump to last

Harrison Armstrong has signed a new 3½ -year deal with Everton and joined Derby County for the remainder of the season.

The Blues moved to tie down their highly-regarded midfield talent before farming him out to the Championship where it is hoped he will gain valuable first-team experience.

Armstrong, 18, has made two first-team starts so far this season, both in the cup.

With Argentine attacking midfielder, Carlos Alcaraz, set to sign before the transfer deadline, David Moyes has sanctioned Armstrong's temporary move and will perhaps look to integrate him into the first-team next season.  

“I’m really excited to sign this deal with a club that means everything to me," the midfielder told evertonfc.com.

“It shows the belief that Everton have in me and I just want to keep progressing and getting better. Getting the chance to play for the first team this season has been great and I just want to push on and reach more.

“I now have an opportunity at a really good club like Derby to learn and hopefully do well for them and I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Anthony Dwyer
1 Posted 03/02/2025 at 21:04:39
Great news all round.
We now get to see what level he is at.
John Raftery
2 Posted 03/02/2025 at 21:10:19
I think Harrison is the best prospect we have seen at his age for many years. I expect him to shine with Derby. The only downside is we lose him from the Youth Cup team.
Derek Knox
3 Posted 03/02/2025 at 21:37:46
Yes, better than collecting splinters each week. At least we have tied him down to us, rather than the usual with youngsters. Hope they haven't made another mistake with Stanley Mills !
Paul Birmingham
4 Posted 03/02/2025 at 21:51:53
Made up for Harrison, this is his big chance to flourish.

Hopefully if he stays injury free at Derby, he will come back a better player for Everton.

Alan J Thompson
5 Posted 04/02/2025 at 03:25:52
Given he wasn't getting much time at Everton it may be a good move for his progress but does this mean the squad is not that light on due to injuries?
Ernie Baywood
6 Posted 04/02/2025 at 05:40:29
We might have retained the right to recall him? Best of both worlds.
Bob Parrington
7 Posted 04/02/2025 at 06:38:39
Good point Ernie. I believe he is already good enough to be in the squad, particularly since it is a small squad by number.
Alan J Thompson
8 Posted 04/02/2025 at 08:14:14
Ernie(#6); I think players on loan can only be recalled (or returned?) in transfer windows but I'm not sure who retains the players registration, and therefore pays him, if he returns to the parent club for medical treatment outside of those windows.
Tony Abrahams
9 Posted 04/02/2025 at 08:20:57
The only place he his really going to learn now is out on the pitch playing with and against seasoned professionals.

Good luck kid and I agree that he his joining a really good club in Derby County.

Si Cooper
10 Posted 04/02/2025 at 10:22:48
Ernie, I’m hoping that too… a special dispensation for U21s players to encourage their parent clubs to give them bespoke opportunities for personal / professional development???
Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 04/02/2025 at 12:29:54
John (2), Good point John about Armstrong going missing from the FA youth team but on second thoughts after watching them v Wolves in the last round my optimism for the team winning this trophy has diminished quite a lot and without Armstrong it’s shrunk quite a bit more.
Rob Jones
12 Posted 05/02/2025 at 09:27:36
Good move for all involved: Derby were looking pretty dire without him, Everton have got two players ahead of him in position, and Armstrong needs game time to help him develop.

The only concern really is how much pressure Warne is under at Derby, and if he'll baulk at playing such a young player.

Ajay Gopal
13 Posted 05/02/2025 at 15:55:33
Tim and Garner coming back from injuries must have given Thelwall comfort in letting him go on loan. He’s looked a very decent player when he’s come on, but this is a good move for his development. However, the stats say that there is maybe only a 25% chance that he will come back and have a good career in the PL.
Chris Cole
14 Posted 07/02/2025 at 17:20:43
Before Armstrong has even played for them, the Derby County manager has been sacked!
After 8 straight defeats has seen them slide into the relegation zone, this isn't a massive surprise.
It seems really odd (poor) of the club to send our brightest prospect to a team on such a downward spiral, lacking confidence, and now without the manager who probably recruited him.
Maybe it's just cos it went well for Ossie all those years ago, it looks like we haven't done our due diligence at all. Disappointing.
Pete Neilson
15 Posted 07/02/2025 at 17:50:06
Chris (14) might be because it appears we no longer have a loans manager focused on this area, since James Vaughan was promoted. It was reported that this role would only be looked at once the takeover had gone through.

Link

Chris Cole
16 Posted 07/02/2025 at 18:49:47
Cheers Pete (15), I'd missed that news - couldn't tell how old that article was? Seems a rather large oversight, not properly managing your most valuable future assets...
Going to that match tomorrow so will be interesting to see how he looks... thanks again

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