Midfielder pens fresh terms until the summer of 2018.

Derby County is delighted to announce Republic of Ireland international midfielder Jeff Hendrick has penned a new long-term deal with the Club.

Hendrick’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, but he has now signed a new four year deal to commit his long term future to the Rams.

The 22-year-old has established himself as a key player the first-team squad at the iPro Stadium in recent seasons and Derby have moved to secure his services until the summer of 2018.

Hendrick made 35 appearances and scored five times during the 2013/14 season, with four of his goals coming in Derby’s last six outings.

Head Coach Steve McClaren commented: “It’s fantastic news for the Football Club that Jeff has signed a new long-term contract and it is probably one of the best signings we will make this summer.





“When myself and the coaching staff were appointed last season we were aware that Jeff was a player with plenty of potential.





“Seeing him first hand in training every day and in match situations too, it is very clear he has a lot of qualities.





“He ended last season in very good form and made a real impact on the side, so we’ll be looking for exactly the same from him at the start of the new season in August.”

Hendrick joined the Rams as a youth player from St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin and played regularly for the Club's Academy side before signing professional terms at the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

He played a significant role in the Rams’ reserve side during the 2010/11 season and his impressive displays earned him a first-team debut, as he featured as an 80th-minute substitute in a 4-2 home defeat to Burnley.

The following campaign, Hendrick was involved in first-team duty from the start of the season, making substitute appearances against Birmingham City and Watford, before claiming a place in the starting line-up for the first time in the side’s 1-0 victory over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

He scored his first professional goal in his fifth start of the season, claiming the winner in the memorable 2-1 victory at local rivals Nottingham Forest, and he went on to remain a regular starter for the rest of the 2011/12 campaign and also the 2012/13 season.

Last season, the Academy graduate started in Derby’s first five games, before succumbing to a chipped ankle bone injury in the side's 3-0 win at Yeovil Town in late August. However, the he returned to action at the midway point of the season and rounded off the campaign in fine form, scoring in the Rams’ Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at the iPro Stadium.

Born in Dublin, Hendrick made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland against Poland in February 2013 and capped his maiden appearance with an assist, setting-up Norwich City’s Wes Hoolahan to score a fine goal during the 2-0 win.

Hendrick’s first Ireland start was against World and European Champions Spain in June 2013, at the Yankee Stadium in New York City, and he also featured in Ireland’s last three friendlies under new boss Martin O’Neill, against Italy, Costa Rica and Portugal respectively to take his total number of caps up to seven.

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