Nolan secures Deepdale move

Young defender Eddie Nolan has left Blackburn to join Championship play-off hopefuls Preston on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 20-year-old has been on loan at Deepdale since October and manager Alan Irvine had no hesitation in shelling out a 'significant six-figure incentive-based' transfer fee to sign him.

Irvine said: "I am really pleased. We signed Eddie on loan and hoped it would become a permanent deal and it has done now. I think will see the promise and potential that Eddie has got.

"He has played in the first team earlier than I anticipated and he has done himself no harm whatsoever with his performances. It is important we have players who are versatile and adaptable and Eddie comes into that category."