Preston released Ethan Walker this summer and the winger has now joined North End’s Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer.
North End announce their retained list early in May with a number of players leaving the club.
One of them was wide man Walker in what felt like an anti-climactic end to his time with Preston.
Walker emerged as a hot prospect in the Preston ranks and made his debut against Aston Villa in December 2018.
Walker became Preston’s youngest-ever player with that display at just 16 years and 156 days old.
Preston released Ethan Walker
Alex Neil was hailing Walker as ‘dynamic’ and felt he had a real future ahead of him at Preston.
Yet more than three years on, that substitute appearance against Villa remains Walker’s only appearance for North End.
The 19-year-old went on loan four times; Altrincham, Stalybridge Celtic, Carlisle United and AFC Fylde all took Walker in.
None of those spells pushed Walker towards the first team and despite a strong 2020 pre-season, the winger faded into the background at Deepdale.
It was therefore no surprise to see Preston release Walker this summer, allowing him to leave for free and pursue a career elsewhere.
Yet what may really frustrate some Preston fans is that Walker is now off to join Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
Rovers have this afternoon confirmed the arrival of Walker, signing him to a two-year professional contract.
This could spark fears from Preston fans who saw Tyrhys Dolan leave North End for Blackburn on a free transfer two years ago.
Dolan quickly became a first-team player at Rovers and has been linked with a Premier League move in 2022.
Walker now has the chance to follow in Dolan’s footsteps and leave Preston to rue the day they let him leave the club.