During the January 2021 transfer window, Ben Davies looked set to join Celtic from Preston North End, only for Liverpool to make a late offer as they faced a defensive crisis. 

Born in Barrow-in-Furness in 1995, Davies joined Preston's youth set up at the age of eleven after being spotted playing in a junior tournament in Lancaster. He made his league debut in 2012/13 aged seventeen, providing an assist for an equalising goal but in his next appearance he conceded a late penalty. 

Davies spent 2013/14 on loan at York City, making 44 appearances as they made the League Two play-offs. Opportunities over the next two seasons at Preston were limited and he had loan spells at Tranmere (League Two) Southport  (National League) and Newport County (League Two). 2016/17 saw him on loan at  Fleetwood, where he played 22 times as they made the League One play offs. His performances there prompted Preston to offer him a new three year deal and he was a key performer for them in 2017/18, earning a new extended deal on improved terms and the club's young player of the year award.

In 2018/19 Davies continued to improve and was named the club's player of the year at the end of the season. In the summer of 2020, heading into the last year of his contract, Davies attracted attention from Premier League Sheffield United who were told it would cost £10 million to persuade Preston to sell. With his contract running down, Davies was close to signing a pre-contract with Celtic in January 2021 prior to Liverpool stepping in. Preston manager Alex Neil acknowledged the club could not stand in his way and a deal was agreed for him to join the Reds immediately on a five year contract.