Preston North End have announced that striker Jordan Hugill has joined West Ham United for a club record fee.

The 25-year-old enjoyed an excellent past eighteen months with the Lilywhites, announcing himself to English football with twelve goals last season, before adding a further ten to his tally this term.

The former non-league forward fought his way up from the lower reaches of the English game to impress with Preston, but will now face an entirely new challenge with the struggling Hammers in the Premier League.

Manager Alex Neil had already moved to improve his attacking options this month with the signings of Billy Bodin and Louis Moult, and the departure of Hugill has provided Neil with a club record fee that he may be handed a percentage of in the summer to ensure his side remain competitive in the second tier.

Fans took to Twitter to have their say on Hugill’s big money move to The London Stadium, with most happy with the impressive fee their side managed to acquire for the player they paid pennies for…