Everton starlet Harrison Armstrong has joined Derby County on loan. The 18-year-old, whose remarkable rise took him to the Blues first team this season, will taste senior football with the Championship side after a deadline deal designed to boost his development.

The teenager, who has attracted admirers in England and across Europe over recent months, has separately committed to a new long-term deal with the Blues.

Armstrong was promoted into the first team squad amid an injury crisis in the summer. The youngster, who had been a highly thought-of component of Leighton Baines’ Under-18s, was a second half substitute in the pre-season game at Salford City.

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The box-to-box midfielder then stood out after being introduced at Preston North End a few weeks later and kept his place in the senior squad even as the likes of Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure overcame minor summer issues.

Armstrong went on to earn his Premier League debut in the final minutes at Tottenham Hotspur and his first start against Southampton in the Carabao Cup. His development led to a call-up to the England youth set-up and he burnished his credentials further with impressive performances when needed by the U18s in the FA Youth Cup, Armstrong grabbing a hat-trick at Goodison against Nottingham Forest in the third round.

At the start of the year, Sean Dyche turned to him at half-time as tried to give Everton a foothold in the game at Bournemouth, the match that ended in a 1-0 defeat and proved to be Dyche’s final one in charge.

In the weeks since, Armstrong has made an impression on David Moyes, who last week said the club was weighing up whether or not to keep hold of him for the rest of the season. Ahead of the win over Leicester City, for which Armstrong was on the bench, the returning Blues boss said: “He is a talented young player, there are a few clubs who would take him.”

Armstrong signed a three year deal in July as he penned his first professional deal with the club. That has now been improved with a three-and-a-half year extension that will take his deal up to 2028. It includes an option for an extra year.

On the move to Derby, and signing the new deal, Armstrong said on Monday: “I’m really excited to sign this deal with a club that means everything to me. 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.”

Everton director of football, Kevin Thelwell, added: “Harrison has shown what an exciting talent he is by gaining experience with our men’s senior team this season, earning his Premier League debut at the age of 17 and making appearances in all three competitions we have played in.

“His progress underlines the clear pathway that is there from our academy to senior team and we are delighted he has signed this new deal for what we believe can be a bright future with Everton.

“We now look forward to Harrison getting a new challenge in the Championship on loan at Derby which will provide another important step in his development.”