Thursday 17 November 2016 18:25, UK
Preston North End have announced that they have agreed a pre-contract deal with former Morecambe man Tom Barkhuizen.
The 23-year-old recently cancelled his deal with Morecambe but the League Two side retained his rights and will receive a compensation package.
Barkhuizen is to sign a two-and-a half-year deal with North End on January 1 but will be able to train with the Championship side in the meantime.
He told the Preston website: "Agreeing the pre-contract deal now, I get the opportunity to bed myself in before I can play again.
"I can get used to how we play and how the lads play and I can be ready to go from January 2 [when Preston face Burton].
"I am really looking forward to it. I think this will be a really good challenge for me and hopefully I can do well for the club and help the lads."
Preston boss Simon Grayson said: "We have watched Tom a lot over the last few months.
"We were impressed by him when we played against Morecambe in pre-season and the reports back have all been very good.
"He is a flexible player, who is quick and has good energy about him, and we felt this was a good opportunity for us to get a player who is hungry, has got desire, has good technical ability and can play in a number of positions.
"He's not the finished article, as many players we bring to this football club aren't, but he is another one we hope we can make better and thus make us better.
"We are trying to build a squad that has a lot more pace about it and Tom certainly has that in abundance."
