DETERMINED Ben Pearson immediately set his sights on a place in the Premier League with Cherries.

The midfielder today completed his move to the Dorset club from Preston.

Pearson, 26, had been with Preston since 2016 and made 165 appearances for the club.

However, with his contract in the north west set to expire in the summer, Cherries swooped for the former Manchester United youngster.

Speaking about the deal, the Oldham-born ace told afcbTV: “As soon as I heard of Bournemouth’s interest I wanted to come here.

“It is a good club with big ambitions to get back into the Premier League, which is somewhere I want to be as well, so we have the same aim.

“The Championship is a difficult league but I’m experienced here and know what it’s about.

“I felt like I was ready for a new challenge and now it's here I’m really looking forward to starting training and getting to know my new team-mates.”

Pearson played the full 90 minutes of Preston's 3-2 win at Vitality Stadium earlier this season.

He becomes Cherries' second signing of the transfer window, after the arrival of free agent Jack Wilshere last week.

Cherries are understood to have paid a minimal transfer fee for Pearson, who signed a deal set to run for three-and-a-half years on the south coast.