Preston North End confirm defender’s exit following contract expiry
Preston North End have confirmed the departure of academy graduate Josh Seary, with the defender completing a move to FC United of Manchester after his contract at Deepdale came to an end.
The Northern Premier League outfit officially announced Seary’s arrival this week, securing the services of the young full-back as he looks to continue his career in senior football. FC United of Manchester, who were founded in 2005 as a supporter-led response to the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, have moved quickly to add Seary to their defensive ranks.
Seary progressed through the youth system at Preston North End, having joined the club at a young age before signing his first professional contract at just 16. He continued his development with a loan spell at Warrington Town during the 2022/23 season, where he featured regularly and gained valuable first-team experience.
His progress was rewarded the following campaign when he made his senior debut for PNE in August 2023, appearing in a Carabao Cup clash against Salford City. Six months later, Seary went on to make his league bow, coming off the bench in an impressive away victory over Coventry City. That appearance was followed by the signing of an 18-month contract extension, underlining the club’s faith in his potential.
Later in the season, the defender headed out on loan to Irish Premiership side Larne, but his time there was unfortunately disrupted early on after he suffered a serious knee injury. As a result, Seary spent a prolonged period on the sidelines, prompting Preston to hand him a further six-month extension in the spring as he worked his way back to fitness.
However, with his recovery ongoing and his contract now expired, Preston North End have confirmed his exit. In total, Seary made five senior appearances for the Lilywhites before bringing his time at Deepdale to a close and embarking on the next chapter of his career with FC United of Manchester.
