Derby County is delighted to announce that striker Chris Martin has put pen-to-paper on a new contract.
The 28-year-old, currently on a season-long loan deal with fellow Sky Bet Championship side Fulham, has penned terms on a new three-and-a-half-year deal which will run until the summer of 2020.The Scotland international frontman joined Derby from Norwich City in 2013, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal ahead of the 2013/14 campaign as a free agent.
In total he has made 160 appearances for Derby and scored on 63 occasions, of which 25 came in 2013/14 as Derby reached the Championship Play-Off Final under Steve McClaren.
During McClaren’s previous spell in charge, during 2013/14 and 2014/15, Martin scored 40 goals in 80 appearances in all competitions - as well as finishing as the Rams’ leading goalscorer in each of his three full seasons at the club.
He appeared for the club on six occasions earlier this season, without scoring, before falling out of favour under former manager Nigel Pearson before being permitted to join Fulham for the remainder of the campaign on loan in August.
Reacting to the news, Derby boss McClaren said: “We are delighted that Chris Martin has decided to commit his long-term future to Derby County by signing this new contract.
“Chris is currently with Fulham, a decision made by the previous manager, but everyone knows that I rate Chris very highly indeed and fortunately we ensured the deal was only temporary.
“I know how much Chrissie loves Derby and therefore, I am really pleased that he has accepted the offer to extend his deal with the club until the summer of 2020.
“I look forward to working with him again once he returns to the club.”
After penning his new deal, Martin said: “I really am excited and happy to be signing this new contract with Derby County.
“At the start of this season I was not in the previous manager’s plans, which is a decision that I completely understood and respected.
“As a result I had the opportunity to move to Fulham on loan, which gave me the chance to play first-team football elsewhere.
“I am thankful that the board only allowed the move on a temporary basis, because I really didn’t want to leave Derby and my family is settled in the area too.
“Derby County is a fantastic club with so many things going for it and driven desire to reach the Premier League. I am very happy that the club and the manager see me as part of the long-term future. I am committed to being as successful as I possibly can be with Derby County.
“I enjoyed playing under Steve McClaren in the past and I feel that he got the best out of me, so I look forward to doing so as soon as possible.”
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