Midfielder pens new deal with Derby County until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Will Hughes has extended his contract with Derby County by a further year.

The England Under 21 international midfielder, who signed a new deal until the summer of 2015 back in October, has penned a year’s extension until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Hughes turned 18 on Wednesday and in turn activated an agreement to extend his stay with the Rams by a further year.

A product of the Derby County Academy, Hughes initially joined on schoolboy forms in 2006 at the age of 11 before signing his first professional contract in March 2012.

Commenting on the news, manager Nigel Clough said: “As we said earlier in the season when Will initially put pen-to-paper, we want to keep our best young players and he certainly falls into that category.


“It’s brilliant news for all parties that he’s got another year on his contract and he’s the sort of lad you want to build your team around.


“He’s had a fantastic season and learnt so much over the last 12 months; he has great potential and we’re all looking forward to seeing how Will improves in the next 12 months.”

Hughes’s form in a Derby shirt this season has earned rave reviews, after successfully building on the three first-team appearances he made last season whilst still only a first-year scholar.

Prior to sustaining a groin injury back in February Hughes had made 35 appearances this season, scoring twice, and had also gained two caps for England’s Under 21 side.

The news comes as a further boost for Derby after it was announced that Jake Buxton and Kieron Freeman had penned contract extensions earlier this month.