Harrison Armstrong has thanked Everton supporters for the "special" backing they showed him during the dramatic final weekend of the transfer window, saying the episode has made it clear to him that the Blues are the club where he wants to be.
On the morning of the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday, August 29, a report from The Athletic emerged that Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest had launched a £40m bid for the teenage midfielder. The ECHO understands the offer was taken to The Friedkin Group and, despite misgivings from inside the club, they were prepared to accept it. It has since transpired that the owners are willing to sell Everton.
Fans' chants and the U-turn
Blues supporters who had made the long trip south for the game made their feelings clear, starting and ending the match chanting: "Don't sell Armstrong, Harrison Armstrong, I just don't think you understand. If you sell Armstrong, Harrison Armstrong, you're gonna have a riot on your hands."
The club's chief executive, Angus Kinnear, was present at the Vitality Stadium amid the protests, which led to The Friedkin Group ending talks with Forest about selling the 19-year-old, who has started all six of the Blues' unbeaten Premier League games so far this season.
Armstrong's response
Armstrong has now spoken about what happened. The new England Under-21 international told evertontv: "The (support) has meant the world to me and my family. In a moment where… I understand it's part of the game and you're going to have to experience moments like that, but for a fanbase to get involved and show as much support as they did, is special.
"I don't think I've seen that before. I've given me confidence, it's made me feel loved. And it's cemented that this is the place to be for me."
Armstrong signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with the club until the end of June 2028, with an option for a further year, in February 2025, but he is now likely to be offered fresh terms following the big-money bid from Forest and to reflect his status as a key member of David Moyes' first-team squad.
Tarkowski's praise
Despite the uncertainty around his future on the day, Armstrong responded with a man-of-the-match performance against Bournemouth, leading club captain James Tarkowski to hail his young team-mate's mentality. Tarkowski, whose injury-time equaliser had earned the Blues a point, said: "I've been on the end of transfer rumours and it's not easy, so for a kid of his age to go and perform the way he did today with all that speculation around him, fair play.
"He's a super talented kid, a massive character in our dressing room and we all love him. I'd want him here, of course. He's been super important so far to us, but it shows how much of a good player he is with all that speculation around him.
"Harrison has been brilliant. I've known him for four or five years now. His potential is massive and he's already improved so much. He's also a massive character in that dressing room for such a young kid."
Armstrong is set to be named in the Everton squad for this Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Chelsea (12.30pm kick-off).
