Port Vale net multi-million windfall as former striker moves on
Port Vale have received a substantial windfall after West Ham United agreed to sign Preston striker Jordan Hugill for a “club record” fee on transfer deadline day.
The transfer fee is expected to be around £9m netting Vale close to £2m in sell-on fees.
Hugill was signed from non-league football by the Valiants and after a prolific loan spell with Gateshead he was brought into the Vale first-team.
He scored his first Football League goal on 16 November, scoring the final goal of a 3–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Vale Park.
He ended up with four goals in 20 appearances but rejected Vale’s offer of a new contract to join Preston. With the clubs unable to agree compensation, a tribunal set a fee of £25,000 plus a 20% sell-on fee should the forward be sold again.
25 year-old Hugill has gone from strength-to-strength at Preston scoring 35 goals in 75 starts and had been linked with a number of big money moves.
West Ham have reportedly beaten off rival bids by Crystal Palace, Reading and Leeds to sign the striker.