Central midfielder Daniel Johnson has signed a permanent deal with Preston North End after the Club agreed an undisclosed fee for the player’s services with Premier League side Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Lilywhites and will be at the home FA Cup fourth round game with Sheffield United on Saturday, although he is ineligible to play.
The Jamaican-born player will take the No.24 shirt and will be available for selection from the Crawley Town fixture next weekend, having already played this season for Chesterfield and Oldham Athletic during his earlier loan spells in the FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy respectively.
Speaking about the latest addition to his squad, manager Simon Grayson said: “We first came across Daniel over a year ago and we thought about signing him last January and have kept our eyes on him ever since.
“We had him watched numerous times when he was on loan at Chesterfield and Oldham and decided we wanted to bring him here and we were delighted he was desperate to come to us.
“There were lots of other clubs who wanted to sign him, but we had the backing of the owner to go out and spend money to secure his services. We feel he is a player who can only get better and will add something different in our midfield options.
“He’s left-footed; can carry the ball, see a pass and has an eye for goal and he will add to the strength we have in the midfield area.
“This is a deal where we have kept an eye on a player for over a year and is a very good signing for the long-term of the football club.”
Whilst Johnson himself was delighted to have completed the deal: “I am really pleased to be here. I have heard a lot about the place and the lads from Callum Robinson and I am looking forward to adding my quality to the squad.”
The Jamaican-born player will take the No.24 shirt and will be available for selection from the Crawley Town fixture next weekend, having already played this season for Chesterfield and Oldham Athletic during his earlier loan spells in the FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy respectively.
Speaking about the latest addition to his squad, manager Simon Grayson said: “We first came across Daniel over a year ago and we thought about signing him last January and have kept our eyes on him ever since.
“We had him watched numerous times when he was on loan at Chesterfield and Oldham and decided we wanted to bring him here and we were delighted he was desperate to come to us.
“There were lots of other clubs who wanted to sign him, but we had the backing of the owner to go out and spend money to secure his services. We feel he is a player who can only get better and will add something different in our midfield options.
“He’s left-footed; can carry the ball, see a pass and has an eye for goal and he will add to the strength we have in the midfield area.
“This is a deal where we have kept an eye on a player for over a year and is a very good signing for the long-term of the football club.”
Whilst Johnson himself was delighted to have completed the deal: “I am really pleased to be here. I have heard a lot about the place and the lads from Callum Robinson and I am looking forward to adding my quality to the squad.”