Preston sign Kesler-Hayden from Villa on loan

Kaine Kesler-Hayden has also been on loan at Swindon, MK Dons, Huddersfield and Plymouth

Preston North End have made their third summer signing by bringing in wing-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old will go straight into contention for Friday's opening game of the Championship season at home to Sheffield United.

“When I found out Preston wanted me to be here I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible ready for the game on Friday," he said.

“I had a chat with the gaffer (Unai Emery) at Villa and he thought the best thing for me to do was to get another season of minutes under my belt and a bit more experience. This is the best place for me to do that. I’m just so happy it went so smoothly and quickly."

Birmingham-born Kesler-Hayden, who made his professional debut in January 2021, will be making his fifth loan move away from Villa Park.

He had half-season loans at Swindon Town and MK Dons in 2021-22, spent half a season at Huddersfield in 2022-23 and was at Plymouth Argyle last season before returning to the West Midlands to make four brief first-team appearances off the bench for Villa.

He follows North End boss Ryan Lowe's two other previous summer signings, Leeds United forward Sam Greenwood, also on a season-long loan, and Iceland midfielder Stefan Teitur Thordarson, on a three-year deal.

Early pacesetters Preston fell away in last season's promotion race to finish 10th, 10 points off a play-off place.