Freddie Woodman said he feels “very honoured to be joining such a fantastic football club” after signing a three-year deal at PNE.
The goalkeeper, who has been with Newcastle United since 2013, completed his move to the Lilywhites on Tuesday afternoon which will see him stay at Deepdale until at least 2025.
Having experience in both the Premier League and the Championship, the 25-year-old admitted he had other options, but conversations with those on the backroom staff at Euxton helped his decision.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Freddie told iFollow PNE. “It’s been a while trying to get this over the line, but I’m delighted to be here and I feel very honoured to be joining such a fantastic football club and a football club that’s going in the right direction.
“I spoke to the manager, not that he had to sell the football club to me, but the way that he works, he’s very passionate and he spoke very highly of the club.
“Obviously I knew Marshy [Mike Marsh] coming here. He played a big part in me picking Preston over other clubs that I had offers from.
“But also myself, I’ve played against Preston and I’ve never had an easy day at Deepdale, and I want to come here and give these fans something that they deserve.”
Freddie has been out on seven loan spells during his career so far, all from Newcastle United who he joined from Crystal Palace as a teenager.
While also achieving promotion with AFC Bournemouth last season, arguably the most successful of his stints away from St James' Park came with Swansea City.
He worked under PNE first team coach Mike Marsh in South Wales, playing a key part in the side reaching the Play-Offs on two occasions.
Freddie added: “Marshy knows what it takes to get a team into the Play-Offs and obviously the manager when I spoke to him, they’re firmly in his sights.
“Hopefully I can bring a little bit of experience. I’ve spent three seasons in the Championship and managed to get to the Play-Offs twice and get promoted with Bournemouth as well, so hopefully I can bring that experience to a side that’s already got so much experience in it.”
As a goalkeeper, he arrives at Deepdale hoping to follow in the footsteps of the successful shot-stoppers that have come before him.
Young English goalkeepers such as Jordan Pickford and Sam Johnstone have enjoyed spells with the club in recent times, and Freddie had done his own research on those further back in time, including North End's record appearance maker Alan Kelly Senior.
“I think it’s exciting as a goalkeeper to come somewhere where they’ve had so many fantastic goalkeepers before,” he added.
“Hopefully I can just add to that and give the fans performances that they’re proud of and hopefully when I pull on the jersey I’ll make them proud.”
Having been on the books of Newcastle United since 2013, he admitted he had a lot to thank them for, but he is now ready for a new journey.
Signed at PNE for three years, he now has a home until at least 2025.
“I’ve been on so many loans,” Freddie said. “People call me the youngest journeyman ever so it’s going to be nice to call Preston my home especially for the next few years.
“Hopefully I can come here and really give the fans something that they deserve.
“I hope I can have good performances here and get this team up the table.”