NafisaPreston North End have reached an agreement in principle to permanently re-sign Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen this summer, sources have exclusively shared with Football League World.
The Lilywhites were pulled into Championship relegation peril late in the 2024-25 season, but a 2-2 draw away at Bristol City on the final day, combined with Luton Town’s 5-3 loss at West Brom and Hull’s 1-1 result at Portsmouth, ensured Paul Heckingbottom’s squad narrowly escaped relegation.
Now, preparations can begin for a significant overhaul at Deepdale to prevent such a close call in 2025-26, and a familiar figure is poised to return to Lancashire.
Preston North End agree deal to sign Daniel Iversen from Leicester City:
FLW exclusively reported in February that Preston North End were targeting a reunion with Iversen this summer, three years after his one-and-a-half season loan spell with the Lilywhites concluded.
It seems that Heckingbottom and his team have acted swiftly to persuade the 27-year-old to join permanently, as the Dane’s Leicester City contract is set to expire next month.
Initially brought in by Alex Neil in the 2021 January transfer window to replace Declan Rudd, Iversen shone brightly at PNE, earning the 2021-22 Player of the Season award under managers Frankie McAvoy and Ryan Lowe, securing 13 Championship clean sheets that year.
Returning to Leicester for the 2022-23 season, Iversen was largely a backup to Danny Ward before playing in their final 12 Premier League matches of their relegation campaign. However, he fell out of favor the following year under Enzo Maresca and later joined Stoke City on loan for the second half of 2023-24.
After spending another year on the bench, Iversen will now leave the King Power Stadium at the end of his contract and return to familiar territory, with North End acquiring an experienced Championship goalkeeper on a free transfer.
Daniel Iversen set to replace Freddie Woodman as Preston North End’s first-choice goalkeeper:
Iversen’s forthcoming return to Deepdale will align with the anticipated exit of Freddie Woodman from Deepdale, marking a full-circle moment.
Signed as Iversen’s successor from Newcastle United in 2022, Woodman has spent three years at North End, claiming Player of the Season in his debut campaign, but 2024-25 was marred by several notable errors.
Woodman finished the season sidelined after sustaining a training ground injury in March, and there are strong indications that he could be moving to Manchester United on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old would serve as third-choice at Old Trafford, replacing Tom Heaton, with Pete O’Rourke recently reporting that the Red Devils are negotiating a deal for Woodman.
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