Former Leicester City ace reveals ‘carnage’ amid move to Preston North End after ‘mentally tough’ season

Daniel Iversen has returned to Preston North End after leaving Leicester City, and the goalkeeper has now shared his frustrations regarding his former employers.

Leicester City have endured a turbulent summer following the Foxes’ relegation back to the Championship, in the boardroom, dugout, and dressing room.

At the hierarchy level, Leicester owners King Power face a £250m payout, with the club struggling severely on a financial front.

Ruud van Nistelrooy departed Leicester last week, and now the Foxes hierarchy are trying to secure Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl as his replacement.

Leicester are in talks over Rohl and if he’s appointed, the German will be without the Foxes’ captain, with Conor Coady set to join Rangers this summer in the wake of the club’s demotion.

Former Foxes goalkeeper Daniel Iversen departed earlier in the summer for Preston North End, and he has now revealed the “carnage” he suffered at Leicester amid his exit.

Ex-Leicester City ace Daniel Iversen lifts lid on Preston North End move

Danish goalkeeper Iversen joined Preston permanently from Leicester in May, with his four-year deal officially beginning on July 1.

Away from parent club Leicester, Iversen impressed during two separate loan spells at Deepdale, from January 2021 until June 2022.

After spending time on loan at Stoke City in 2023/24, Iversen returned to the King Power Stadium ahead of the Foxes’ Premier League campaign, during which he failed to make a single appearance under Steve Cooper or van Nistelrooy.

With Leicester in turmoil in every department, Iversen has lifted the lid on the “carnage” he has endured at the club during his move to Preston.

Iversen told the Lancashire Post: “The year I went back (to Leicester) was really good to be fair, I was on the bench, played cup games and then finished the season. 

“But we got relegated and after that it has just been carnage: not letting me go and stuff like that.

“There’s a lot in the background people don’t know; it’s been frustrating. I had a lot of options to get out and play but so many people have to agree about a deal, which is what killed it really.

“I have been waiting for two-and-a-half years to get out and play again.

 “That was tough mentally, but I’m happy to be here (at Preston) now. I feel ready.”

With Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward signed by Wrexham, and the transfer speculation surrounding number one Mads Hermansen this summer, the Foxes could be left ruing their treatment of Iversen.

However, Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom will be pleased to see the Dane sign permanently amid Freddie Woodman’s Liverpool move, and Iversen has also revealed his intentions at the Lilywhites for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Daniel Iversen’s statistics compared to Freddie Woodman’s

Preston have been busy so far in the summer window, both in terms of incomings and departures.

Bristol City signed Emil Riis Jakobsen after his Preston exit on a free transfer, after Preston agreed a loan for Daniel Jebbison, with the striker arriving on loan from top flight Bournemouth.

Preston’s signing of Thierry Small from Charlton Athletic will bolster the Addicks’ backline significantly and be a major benefit to improving last season’s 20th-placed finish.

Key statistic	Freddie Woodman in 24/25	Daniel Iversen in 23/24
Games played	37	18
Goals conceded	43	22
Clean sheets	12	7
Saved penalties	1/4	0/1
Goals conceded per game	1.16	1.2

Freddie Woodman and Daniel Iversen’s stats compared from their most recent seasons, data per Fotmob

Iversen has big gloves to fill at Preston, and is hoping to repay the faith shown in him from the Deepdale outfit next season.

He added: “I have to play my game. It will possibly take a bit longer, as it’s a long time since I played, but hopefully the pre-season will be good for me and I can be back into it again.

“It’s a big feat to try and do the same again but I will try my best and I will do anything for this club.”

“I definitely wanted to come back at one point but football is a strange game really, so you don’t know if it is going to happen. Since I came to Leicester, for nine-and-a-half years it has been moving around.

“Now, I want some stability, also for my partner. We know we’re here for at least a couple of years… I’m really happy to be back.”