Kaine Kesler-Hayden joins Preston North End on loan from Aston Villa
Kaine Kesler-Hayden set for Championship action with Preston North End Credit: None
Preston North End have confirmed the signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old wing-back, who boasts experience across all four of England’s top divisions, is set to wear the No. 29 shirt and will be available for the Championship opener against Sheffield United.
Expressing his excitement, Kesler-Hayden shared, “I’m just so happy it went so smoothly and quickly. I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get started.” He further added, “When I found out Preston wanted me to be here, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible ready for the game on Friday.”
The Birmingham-born defender began his career at Aston Villa Academy, eventually making his professional debut in January 2021. His journey has seen him gain valuable experience with loan spells at Swindon Town, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town, and most recently, Plymouth Argyle.
Last season, he returned to Aston Villa, where he made three Premier League appearances and participated in the UEFA Conference League semi-final.
Manager Ryan Lowe expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition, stating, “We’ve followed Kaine for a couple of years now. He’s that tricky wing-back that we’ve wanted to add to the team.” Lowe praised Kesler-Hayden’s abilities, saying, “He’s a ball carrier who can get fans off their seats. He’s exciting, and once we knew we could get a deal done with Aston Villa, we thought let’s get this done as soon as possible.”
Kesler-Hayden is eager to make the most of this opportunity, noting a conversation with his Villa manager influenced his decision. “I had a chat with the gaffer at Villa, and he thought the best thing for me to do was to get another season of minutes under my belt and a bit more experience. I think this is the best place for me to do that,” he explained.
