Jordan Storey has joined Championship side Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.
“His excellent performances at the heart of our defence is testament to the fantastic background work of our club’s academy, which continues to produce talented and well-rounded young footballers, as well as the excellent efforts of the football management staff and Jordan himself in making the transition to become an integral part of our first team squad.
“Moments like this are always bittersweet as we would have loved to have kept Jordan and watched him develop further with Exeter City, but the need to be realistic about an offer as substantial as this was one we felt – when considering the long-term prospects of the club – needed to be accepted.
“Both the football management and the club board were unanimous in the decision that this was both the right deal for the player and for the club.”
Jordan played 17 games for the Grecians last season, making his first full start for the club in February away at Luton Town.
He started last season on loan at Dorchester Town and manager Matt Taylor said that this move shows the benefit of the loan system as Jordan got valuable first-team experience at non-league level before breaking into the Grecians starting XI.
Matt added that Jordan must take a lot of credit for how he has approached his football over the past 18 months with him coming to training every day with a willingness to learn and a desire to improve.
“The transfer is testament to Jordan’s hard work,” said Matt. “Eighteen months ago he was very much at a crossroads in his career but he has knuckled down and worked hard. He has really worked at his game and every day he has come in with a mindset to improve.
“His physical attributes will mean that he can play at the highest possible level and if he keeps on learning and developing as a centre-half, with the same desire and effort that he has shown at Exeter, then we have got every confidence that he will go on to do himself and our club proud."