Confirmed: Preston North End dealt late transfer blow by key departure

Preston North End were dealt a major blow late in the January transfer window, with the club agreeing to the sale of Jordan Hugill, who has left Deepdale for West Ham United on a permanent deal.

The Sky Bet Championship outfit announced on their official website the departure of Hugill, with West Ham paying Preston a club-record fee to secure the service of the 25-year-old.

After contact from West Ham yesterday, Hugill made it clear to Preston that he wanted to take the step into the Premier League and move to the London Stadium, with the Lilywhites admitting they couldn’t stand in the way of the striker.

Hugill leaves Deepdale for West Ham after three-and-a-half years with Preston, which saw him score 30 goals in 114 appearances for the club.

✍️ BREAKING: Striker @JordanHugill has completed a move to Premier League side @WestHamUtd for a club record fee.

Full details ➡️ https://t.co/goo2uByEUl#pnefc #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/lS0zjf7NHQ

— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 31, 2018

Last season, Hugill was Preston’s top goalscorer in the Championship, bagging 13 goals across all competitions.

That form was continued into the current campaign, with the prolific 25-year-old already scoring 10 goals for Preston, prior to his move to West Ham.

Hugill leaves Alex Neil’s side ninth in the Championship table, just three points outside the play-offs following Tuesday night’s 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The Verdict  

Hugill departs Preston after an excellent 18 months at Deepdale.

Preston had been reliant on the 25-year-old’s goals, but it was hard to stand in the striker’s way when West Ham and the chance of Premier League football came knocking.

Neil’s side will miss Hugill, but if the club can continue the form they showed against Forest, without their main striker, Preston’s supporters will be confident the club can keep improving.

Preston fans… Let us know your thoughts!