Preston North End are delighted to confirm Finlay Cross-Adair has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The boyhood PNE fan, who joined the club’s Academy at the age of ten, has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal, which will see him stay at Deepdale until at least 2025.
Finlay, 17, made his professional debut for North End in October 2022, coming on as a late substitute against Stoke City, and his second senior appearance came in the weekend’s 4-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers.
Finlay said: “It’s a massive day; it’s a dream come true.
“Ever since I signed here at Preston, the goal was to get a professional contract and to have signed it today is a dream come true.
“I’m really proud, especially of this season. If you’d have told me at the start of the season I’d have made my professional debut, came on at Ewood Park, and signed my professional contract today, I’d have said ‘no chance’, so it’s really special.”
The striker – who has followed PNE home and away all his life – got his chance with the first team during the September international break and, after catching the eye of manager Ryan Lowe, Finlay has continued to spend most of his time at Euxton.
He has also regularly led the line in the U19s’ positive start to the campaign, having scored eight goals in 11 matches so far this season.
Manager Ryan Lowe said: “Since Finlay’s been up with the first team he’s been a breath of fresh air.
“He hasn’t looked out of place one bit. His attitude and his application has been fantastic.
“He’s definitely warranted a pro contract with the goals he’s been scoring with the youth team, the goals he scores when he’s up here, and he’s been in and around the first team on a couple of occasions in terms of the games.
“I’m really pleased we’ve tied him down because he’s going to be a real asset for the football club.
“We’ve got some good, talented young players here at Preston North End at the moment. That’s what we want, we’re always building for the future because it’s so important.”