Patrick Bauer’s love of the club and his team-mates in the dressing room played a big part in him choosing to extend his stay at Preston North End.
The central defender's contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but his new deal will now see him stay at Deepdale until at least 2024.
Having been here since 2019 and living in the nearby area, Patrick admits to feeling very settled in the area and he’s now looking ahead to the next period with the Lilywhites.
Speaking to iFollow PNE, he said: “I’m really relieved to get it done. Negotiations have been going on for quite a while so I’m really glad to finally put pen to paper and be here at least for the next two and a half years.
“It’s kind of always in your mind so I’m glad to get it done and focus from now on just on the football, and hopefully we can be successful with Preston in the next years.
“First of all, me and my family felt really comfortable here in the area. We love the club and I love the boys in the changing room.
“We’ve got a really good changing room and a really good squad, and I feel like we can be really successful in the future. Hopefully we can show that in the next [few] years.”
Since his arrival two and a half years ago, the 29-year-old has racked up 72 appearances for the club, but he spent eight months in the treatment room between December 2020 and August 2021.
That was due to an Achilles injury picked up in an away game against AFC Bournemouth, and the German learned a lot about the club and his team-mates after that incident.
Pat said: “Especially when an injury like that happens, the players were really disappointed and gutted about the injury because you don’t know what will happen.
“But from the first moment, I remember in the hotel in Bournemouth the boys came to me after the game, taking me in their arms and even from the staff and everyone.
“They were saying ‘Pat don’t worry about anything, we will get you back as fast as possible’ and I really appreciated being here. I’m absolutely buzzing to be here for the next [few] years.”
The former German youth international has played every minute of football since Ryan Lowe was appointed manager at the club, and Pat said he’s been “really happy” working with his new gaffer so far.
Asked if signing a contract shows he believes he can be part of success at PNE, Pat responded: “If I didn’t feel that way I wouldn’t have signed.
“I definitely feel that we can achieve something with the club and I can’t wait to get going again.
“When players are out of contract there’s a lot of interest, but it was always in my mind that I want to stay at Preston, and I’m glad to get it sorted now.”
Watch Pat's full interview now on iFollow PNE.