Preston defender Ben Davies has completed a surprise deadline-day transfer to Liverpool.
The 25-year-old centre-back, in the final six months of his contract, had a medical on Monday before sealing his move for an initial £500,000, with a further £1.1million of add-ons structured into the deal.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the player Liverpool hope will help ease their defensive injury crisis.
Early years
Davies, born in Barrow-in-Furness in 1995, was spotted playing for Furness Rovers aged 11 and was signed up for Preston’s youth system, through which he progressed to eventually captain their academy team.
First taste of senior football
Team sheet from Deepdale and youngster Ben Davies will make his first professional start. pic.twitter.com/DUoy6yv6
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 26, 2013
He made his first-team debut in January 2013 aged 17, playing 83 minutes as a left-back in a 2-2 draw at home to Coventry in which he provided an assist. He would make only two more appearances before manager Graham Westley was sacked the following month. Davies signed his first one-year professional contract at the end of the season having been named Scholar of the Year.
York loan
Three clubs in one season
Tranmere have signed left back Ben Davies on a youth loan from Preston North End pic.twitter.com/JXQx4zV1Lu
— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) September 19, 2014
Having signed a new two-year contract in the summer of 2014, League Two Tranmere was his next loan destination at the start of the 2014-15 campaign but after a short spell he dropped into the National League with Southport, then returned to Preston because of injury problems at his parent club.
