Derby County set to lose out to Preston in race to sign Everton player | OneFootball

The 18-year-old grabbed both assists in Everton's 2-0 win over Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup.

Preston North End are set to bolster their midfield with the addition of Everton's highly-rated 18-year-old, Harrison Armstrong.

The Everton youngster is set to arrive at Deepdale on loan, according to a report from Mike Keegan.

It'll be the central midfielder's first full season out on loan, after he spent the latter half of the 2024/25 campaign at Derby County, starting in each of their last 12 Championship games en route to securing survival under John Eustace.

The Rams boss refused to comment on him potentially rejoining the club this season, and it looks like a return to Pride Park is off the table, as the 2007-born star looks all but certain to be playing for Paul Heckinbottom's side.

Harrison Armstrong close to Preston North End arrival in Derby County blow

According to the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan on Friday, Preston are hopeful of completing a loan deal for Armstrong today.

Journalist Alan Nixon also revealed via Patreon earlier this month that Derby County were keen on bringing him back to Pride Park for another loan spell this season.

The 18-year-old has been at Everton for the entirety of his youth career, making his debut in the Premier League last August against Tottenham Hotspur.

The youngster was a regular feature as part of the Toffees' Premier League matchday squads last season, before spending the latter half of 2024/25 playing on loan at Derby.

There, he started the final 12 games of the season, a run which saw the Rams lose just three times as they secured their Championship survival.

He also scored his first career goal in an important 3-2 away win at Plymouth Argyle.

This season, he's once again made the squad in both Premier League games so far, and played all 90 minutes in Everton's 2-0 win over Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup, a game where he assisted both goals and picked up the Player of the Match.

If the 18-year-old can carry that form to his new club, then a Preston side already buoyed by wins against recently relegated sides in Leicester City and Ipswich Town will be boosted even further.

Harrison Armstrong can fully cement himself as a top-level Championship player this season

Last season, Armstrong didn't look out of place in a side who were one of the form teams in the Championship towards the back end of the campaign, and showed glimpses of the quality which placed him on the periphery of action at a Premier League club at such a young age.

There are a number of Everton fans who feel that the exciting midfielder should be given more opportunities in the first team at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, too, but David Moyes has seemingly decided that a loan move to one of his former clubs is the right move this term.

He's shown his class already this season, and Preston fans will be excited to see what he can do at Deepdale, especially with the performance against Mansfield still fresh in the minds of Lilywhites fans.

At Preston, you'd expect the youngster to be one of the first names on the teamsheet at a level which will provide a much-needed challenge for an 18-year-old still finding his feet in senior football.