Luke Plange has signed for Derby County, after Arsenal decided not to offer him a professional contract, according to reports.

Luke Plange with the Arsenal academy (Photo via Plange on Instagram)
Luke Plange with the Arsenal academy (Photo via Plange on Instagram)

Recent reports suggested Arsenal academy striker Luke Plange was close to signing for Derby County, after the club told him they wouldn’t be offering professional terms ahead of the summer. Plange had also spent time on trial for Queens Park Rangers.

Pictures have since emerged of the teenager signing a contract with Derby, after he scored for them as a trialist in their most recent u18 match against Manchester City. RisingBallers posted the below to their Instagram story.

Luke Plange signing his Derby County contract via RisingBallers on Instagram
Luke Plange signing his Derby County contract via RisingBallers on Instagram

Plange scored Derby’s first goal of a comeback from 2-0 down against Manchester City’s u18s, with the game ending 3-3. A loose ball fell to him in the area, and he got it out of his feet before spinning on it to finish into the bottom corner.

Plange had a solid enough goalscoring record for the Arsenal u18s, managing seven goals in just under 1,000 league minutes. But he never fully established himself as an u18 starter, with other young strikers often preferred ahead of him.

The 18-year-old can clearly finish, so it’s a shame things didn’t work out in North London. But Derby have a great academy and he’s sure to get the chance to push on into the u23s and senior football if he keeps performing for them.