Ryan Ledson described his decision to sign a new contract at Preston North End as a “no brainer”.
The central midfielder, who first joined the club in 2018, has penned a new deal which will see him stay at Deepdale until at least 2025.
He has made no secret about his love for North End during his time as a Lilywhite, and he’s now looking forward to continuing his journey.
Ryan said: “I’m really happy. Obviously I’ve wanted to get it over the line for a few weeks now.
“It’s where I want to play my football. Everyone knows how much the club means to me and I love it here, so I’m made up and I’m ready to crack on now.
“I do love it here – the lads, all the management staff and the people who work in the club.
“I’ve got a good relationship with everyone so it was a no brainer for me to stay here.”
When Ryan first stepped on to the scene, he appeared to have a tough task ahead of him, competing in a midfield stacked with talent.
He quickly showed what he was all about, though, and he’s developed over the years into being a huge part of the dressing room, and has on occasion taken the armband for Ryan Lowe’s side this season.
The former Everton man said: “It’s my fifth season here now. Obviously I was a 20-year-old lad [when I signed], just a kid who had an unbelievable midfield in front of me, with Gally [Paul Gallagher], Pearo [Ben Pearson], and obviously DJ [Daniel Johnson] and Browney [Alan Browne] who are still here.
“It’s just been about growing, growing every year. Obviously a couple of years ago I won Player of the Year, and I’m just really feeling at home now, and as I said I do love it here and I’ll stay here for as long as I can.
“I always knew it was going to be tough coming from League One all them years ago, but obviously I’m up to grips with the Championship now.
“I’ve played a lot of games in the Championship now so hopefully I can just keep going.”
There won’t be too much time for the Liverpudlian to celebrate his new deal, though, with North End back in Championship action on Saturday with a Lancashire derby away to Blackburn Rovers.
Ryan added: “It’s massive and we all know what it means to play against Blackburn.
“It’s obviously a local derby and after the last local derby I think the lads will be fired up to make sure we put this one right.”
That Rovers game will be North End’s 22nd league game of the season, with the halfway mark approaching, and PNE will be relatively happy with the position they’re in.
In Ryan’s mind, he’s clear as to what he wants to achieve during his next few years at the club, viewing the current campaign as a possibility for success.
Ryan said: “I think the goal’s obviously to get in the Premier League, and why not?
“I think especially this season we’re there or thereabouts in the Play-Offs, where we want to be.
“I think we’ve had a great start to the season and long may that continue.
“Obviously with January coming around now, if we can get maybe a couple of bodies in then we’ll be even stronger for that, and we’ll look to go for as long as we can and stay up there.”
Watch Ryan's full interview for free above on iFollow PNE.