Preston North End have signed Ian Ashbee on an 18-month contract from Championship rivals Hull City, whilst North End have rejected bids for three star players.
Preston North End boss Phil Brown will be reunited with the experienced midfielder. Ashbee was skipper during Brown's time as Hull boss.
Ashbee missed all of last season with a knee ligament injury, but has made 20 appearances this term following Nigel Pearson's appointment as manager.
However, the 34-year-old handed in a transfer request earlier in the week and he was left out of the Tigers' 0-0 draw with leaders Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Sheffield United are also understood to have been keen on Ashbee, but he has opted for the opportunity to work with Phil Brown again.
Ashbee will go straight into the squad for Tuesday's game at Barnsley and he becomes Brown's first permanent signing.
Brown also rejected bids for goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, midfielder Billy Jones and defender Sean St Ledger.
Cardiff lodged a bid for Lonergan over the weekend, while Ipswich tried to sign St Ledger.
Bristol City also made an improved offer for the talented Jones, but North End chairman Maurice Lindsay rejected all three proposals.
Preston are currently rock bottom of the Championship table and Lindsay wants them to have the best chance possible to beat the drop.
"We turned down a big bid from Bristol City for Billy, that was an improved offer from one they made earlier,"
"Ipswich wanted to sign St Ledger and we said 'no'.
"We also turned down a bid from Cardiff for Lonergan - they didn't have the confidence to ring us up, we got a fax from them.
"This shows we are not a selling club, we are trying to strengthen in our battle to avoid relegation.
"We want to turn the ship round here, give ourselves the chance of staying in the Championship."
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