Dundalk FC have announced that Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan will leave the club to join English Championship side Preston North End.

The League of Ireland champions confirmed the news on their website today, saying that both players will move to Deepdale in January.

Boyle signed for Dundalk in December 2012 from Shelbourne while Horgan joined the Lilywhites from Cork City a year later.

“I had a brilliant four years at Dundalk,” Boyle said. “I don’t think anyone could have imagined the success that we had. Winning trophies and obviously the European run that we had this year.

“I’m looking forward now to the next part of my career at Preston North End. It is the right move for me. From being over and looking around the place it is a great club and great facilities. I am looking forward to getting going now.”

Horgan said: “Incredible is the only word for the three years I had at the club. To win everything and to do what we did in Europe was special. It was a special time for me and for the club as well. The league titles were something unique especially considering where we came from to win three on the bounce was amazing and in some sense unprecedented from what was expected.

“It’s a new challenge at Preston and new adventure for myself and my family. It is something that if I didn’t take the chance to go now I would have been left wondering ‘what if?’ more so than anything else. It was always something I have aimed for and unfortunately it has come at a time when football in Ireland is probably at its highest point. It was something I couldn’t turn down.”