Second Preston North End exit of the day as Darnell Fisher joins Middlesbrough

Fisher's exit follows that of Ben Pearson to AFC Bournemouth earlier in the day.

The right-back joins Boro for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £300,000.

He was in the final few months of his PNE contract and hadn't been offered a new deal, that somewhat surprising bearing in mind he had been the regular right-back over the last three-and-a-half seasons.

Fisher was the first signing of Alex Neil's time as manager when he joined from Rotherham United on a free transfer in July 2017.

He made 119 appearances for North End in all competitions, his one goal in a PNE shirt coming against Norwich City in the second week of the season.

Boro manager Neil Warnock said: "Darnell has played at this level for three-and-a-half years and has always been reliable. Sometimes you're at a club for too long and I think he needs a new challenge.

"He'll enjoy the banter here. He'll enjoy the type of lads. I think he'll fit in, he seems that type of lad."

Fisher had been an unused substitute for the last two games, with Alan Browne chosen ahead of him in the right-back role.

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