Preston North End have agreed to sign winger Kyel Reid from 1st July.
The London-born left-sided forward missed the second half of the 2013/14 season due to a knee injury, but completed a rigorous medical before agreeing terms on a two-year contract at Deepdale following the end of his deal at Bradford City.
Reid, 26, started his career at West Ham United and was Phil Parkinson’s first signing at Valley Parade, playing a big part in their success over the past three years, making over 100 appearances – including the League Cup Final and Play-Off Finals at Wembley, scoring 13 goals along the way.
A former England youth international at U17, U18 and U19 level, Reid will join up with his team-mates on July 3rd, although he will initially continue his rehabilitation from the injury he suffered against Sheffield United back in January
Speaking about the signing and explaining when he hopes to have the player available for selection, manager Simon Grayson said: “I have worked with Kyle before at Blackpool and Glynn has also worked with him, so we know a lot about him.
“He has been a big player for Bradford in the past couple of seasons and he’s the sort of player we have been looking to bring into the squad over the last few months.
“He is still young and hungry and we are looking forward to working with him.
“He showed what he is capable of at Deepdale last season and he can be a match-winner on his day. When you have the home fans baying for your blood, as he did that night, you know you are producing a performance; that night I even felt like kicking him every time he ran past!
“We are hopeful he can replicate that sort of form in the next couple of years; he is a really good signing for us and a welcome addition to the squad.
“There were certain occasions last season where we were 1-0 up going into the last few minutes and we’ve had chances to break quickly and because we didn’t have that pace in the side we couldn’t finish teams off and sometimes teams equalised against us and those games could have been the difference between promotion and the Play-Offs and the acquisitions over the summer have given us different options.
“Kyel did his ACL cruciate ligament in January against Sheffield United. He is on his rehabilitation still at the moment, but we did an extensive two day medical and everything is fine.
“He is determined to come back fitter and sharper than he was this time last year, so we had no hesitation in doing the deal now and I am delighted that we have done it.”