Crystal Palace have announced the deadline day signing of Derby County teenager Luke Plange.
The 19-year-old striker has scored three goals in six starts since making his Rams debut in December and will immediately return to the club on loan for the rest of the season.
Both Palace and Derby had to gain special permission for the transfer due to Derby's transfer embargo, with the Rams currently in administration and fighting for survival both on and off the pitch.
Plange, who joined the Rams over the summer after being released by Arsenal's academy, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Crystal Palace.
Speaking with Palace TV, Plange said: “I'm very excited to be joining a big Premier League club. I'm ready to crack on. Obviously, I’ll be with Derby, fighting for them in the Championship at the moment, but I will be ready to go back to Crystal Palace in the summer and get ready to go.”
Chairman Steve Parish added: “Luke is an exceptionally talented young footballer and one we hope will bring a range of attributes to the club in the years to come.
“But first, he has an important role to fulfil playing at Derby, and we appreciate his significance to them in their current circumstances. It is less than 12 years ago that our club was in a similar situation - as a result we were determined to ensure both clubs benefit through this deal.
"Therefore Luke will return on loan for the remainder of the season and help Derby with their important battles on and off the pitch."
Plange is Palace's only incoming player of the window, with the club's only other business being the conversion of Jean-Philippe Mateta's loan from Mainz into a permanent deal.
Who is Luke Plange?
Luke Plange grew up in Twickenham and started playing for Arsenal's academy at the age of six after scouts from most of London's top clubs - including Crystal Palace - had watched him play for his local team Feltham Whites.
A natural striker who grew up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, Plange quickly settled at Arsenal and scored regularly while often playing in older age groups.
But as he reached the final stages of his junior career his progress plateaued, with the Gunners deciding not to offer him a professional contract last summer and releasing him to find a new club.
Their loss was Derby's gain, who offered Plange a contract after he had impressed in a handful of trial games for their Under-23s. He went on to play ten times for Darren Wassall's side in the Premier League 2, scoring in a 3-2 loss against Crystal Palace in October before getting called into Wayne Rooney's senior squad two months later.
Plange made his debut as a half-time substitute in the Championship against Bristol City before scoring on his first start a week later against Blackpool in a 1-0 win at Pride Park Stadium.
He scored his second goal a few weeks later in a 2-1 win against Stoke City away before notching his third in six starts on Sunday evening as Derby came from 2-0 down against Birmingham to draw 2-2.
