Healy, 25, scored 44 goals in 120 starts at unfashionable Preston and signed a three-year deal at Elland Road. He said: "I’m delighted things have finally been sorted out. I enjoyed my time at Preston but needed a new challenge and that’s what I’ve got.
"My job’s to score goals and I’ve proved I can do that. My aim’s to keep that up and help Leeds back to the Premiership where they belong."
Healy goes straight into the starting line-up for tomorrow's game against Wigan, despite suffering from conjunctivitis, with Kevin Blackwell delighted to have finally got his man.
The Leeds manager said: "It took a long time and the problem we have is that when the name 'Leeds United' is mentioned it adds noughts and zeroes to the fee. They forget we are skint.
"There was a time when we could have gone out and got David Healy in a morning but now we have to wheel and deal and negotiate to raise funds. I have got to thank the board for dipping into their own pockets to get David Healy. I believe David, who has just turned 25, has the best years of his career coming up."