Preston North End sign Manchester City striker Lukas Nmecha on loan

Preston North End have signed Manchester City striker Lukas Nmecha on a season-long loan deal.

A number of Championship clubs have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old during the current transfer window, with Preston beating the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City and Leeds United to his signature.

Nmecha made his senior debut and Premier League debut for City last season and also featured during their pre-season tour of the United States, but he will now spend the 2018-19 campaign under Alex Neil at Deepdale.

"Alex Neil has been a big part of my decision to sign. He is very passionate about the game and I am excited by the style of play that the club have been playing," Nmecha told Preston's official website.

"This season we can go a long way. We play great football and I am here to add goals to the team. I am here to develop and give the club the best I can."

Neil added: "We have been targeting this for a while now. I believe we have signed one of the brightest centre-forwards in the country at his age group.

"Manchester City have got really high hopes for him. He has spent the last six months training with their first team and we have managed to persuade him that the next stage of his development is to come and play for Preston North End.

"I think it a huge compliment of what we are trying to do and hopefully this will be a mutually beneficial move for both parties."

Nmecha, who will wear the number 45 shirt for Preston, could make his debut for the club against Swansea on Saturday.