Preston have snapped up Freddie Woodman and that means a reunion with North End midfielder Ryan Ledson after their England youth days.
Ryan Lowe’s top priority was signing a new goalkeeper after a series of departures.
From Daniel Iversen’s return to Leicester to Declan Rudd retiring and the exits of four other goalkeepers, Preston have lost six stoppers in recent times.
Landing a quality Championship goalkeeper had to be a key focus for Preston and they have landed their man in Woodman.
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Preston have snapped up Freddie Woodman
North End had been linked with goalkeepers like Benjamin Siegrist and Matt Ingram but it’s Woodman who will be Preston’s new stopper.
The 25-year-old is a proven Championship goalkeeper from his time at Swansea City and represents a major coup for North End.
Woodman has signed a three-year deal at Preston, meaning North End hopefully won’t need to go for loans for a while.
Woodman will see familiar face in Mike Marsh having worked with Lowe’s assistant at Swansea.
Yet one reunion that hasn’t really been highlight is with Preston midfielder Ryan Ledson.
Back in 2014, Ledson and Woodman were playing together for England Under-17’s with Ledson serving as captain.
The pair featured together against the Netherlands in the final of the UEFA European Under-17 Championships eight years ago.
Woodman saved a penalty in the shootout after a 1-1 draw and received huge praise from Ledson after lifting the trophy.
Ledson told The FA’s official site that Woodman saving the penalty was simply doing what he does best, even adding that there was no other goalkeeper around that he would have preferred to Woodman.
“Freddie has stepped up to the plate and does what he does best,” said Ledson. “I fancied him all the way through to save some penalties and there is no other keeper I would have had in that situation,” he added.
England senior honours haven’t followed for either player but they now join forces again at Preston.
Seeing that kind of praise from a now-Preston player just goes to show the calibre of talent North End have signed – and Ledson is no doubt buzzing to be playing with a goalkeeper he has trusted for a long time.