Wrexham has finalized a three-year contract with Preston North End captain Ben Whiteman, including an option for an additional year. The 30-year-old midfielder, who has accumulated 200 Championship appearances, successfully completed his medical examinations on Tuesday. This marks Wrexham’s second major signing this summer, following the addition of defender Danny Imray from Crystal Palace.
Whiteman expressed excitement about joining the club, citing Wrexham’s ambition to reach the Premier League as a primary motivation for the move. However, his departure from Preston has sparked controversy. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom publicly criticized the midfielder, alleging that Whiteman pushed for an exit by declaring he would not play for the club again, an action Heckingbottom described as crossing a professional boundary.
Born in Rochdale, Whiteman began his football career at Sheffield United before moving to Preston via Doncaster Rovers in 2021. Throughout the previous season, he made 43 appearances for Preston, helping them secure a 14th-place finish in the Championship.
