Preston North End have signed Plymouth Argyle defender Lewis Gibson on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The centre-back, 24, swapped Devon for Deepdale for a reported seven-figure fee during a “whirlwind 48 hours”.

“It’s a project now where I want to take it to the next level and try and break it into the top six and potentially go ahead,” Gibson told the club website, external.

“I’ve got real excitement and a real fire in the belly about getting going.”

Preston are understood to have fought off interest from several other clubs for the signature of a player who kickstarted his career at Middlesbrough before moving on to Newcastle United and Everton.

Gibson went on to have loan spells with Fleetwood Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers before a move to the Pilgrims, for whom he made 63 appearances.

He will be available to make his debut in the Emirates FA Cup third-round tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, 11th January.

Departing the club will be striker Layton Stewart, who joins Swiss side FC Thun on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old has made 16 appearances for North End since joining from Liverpool in July 2023 but has not featured for Preston this season.