Preston’s summer transfer window seemed frustrating at times, but had a great end with two impressive signings.
North End brought in eight signings this summer, three of them having spent the second half of last season on loan at Deepdale.
Nine senior players ended their time in the Preston squad one way or another, bringing North End’s tally to 17 signings for the summer.
Here is a helpful ‘in case you missed it’ round-up of the club’s summer activity…
Who joined Preston this summer?
Liam Lindsay
Scottish central defender Lindsay joined Preston on a permanent basis after joining on loan from Stoke City in January.
Lindsay penned a two-year deal at Deepdale, tying him to the club until the summer of 2023.
Sepp van den Berg
Liverpool talent Van den Berg joined on loan in January as part of the deal that saw Ben Davies head to Anfield.
A centre back by trade, Van den Berg has become a fan favourite in a wing back role at Preston, and re-joined for another year-long loan spell back in June.
Izzy Brown
Released by Chelsea after a string of loan spells, Brown joined Preston on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal with the option of a second.
Unfortunately for the playmaker, he has suffered a torn Achilles this summer and will now miss most of the season, possibly meaning he may not play for North End with his contract up next summer.
Matthew Olosunde
American international Olosunde chose to leave Rotherham United at the end of last season, and signed a two-year deal with North End.
Formerly of Manchester United, Olosunde looks like a great fit as a right wing back, but has yet to play a competitive game for North End having picked up an injury in pre-season.
Daniel Iversen
Goalkeeper Iversen joined on loan from Leicester City in January, coming in as Preston’s first-choice goalkeeper following a season-ending injury to Declan Rudd.
Iversen was outstanding in the second half of last season, and Preston swooped to bring Iversen back in for another year, and he has already nailed down the first-choice spot again.
Jamie Thomas
The feel-good story of the summer from a Preston perspective, playmaker Thomas scored two long-range goals for Bamber Bridge against North End in a pre-season friendly.
Preston then took Thomas on trial, and after scoring against Accrington Stanley and impressing against Wigan, North End gave him a contract until the end of the season.
Formerly of Bolton Wanderers and Burnley, Thomas fell out of the game with mental health problems and has now earned a stunning move up to the Championship.
Josh Murphy
One of Preston’s two deadline day signings, Murphy has signed on loan from Cardiff City until the end of the season.
The Bluebirds paid £11million for the winger in 2018, but his contract expires next summer, and Preston may sense a potential bargain if he impresses this season.
Quick and skilful, Murphy worked under Frankie McAvoy at Norwich City and brings proven Championship quality to Deepdale.
Ali McCann
The real shock of deadline day saw Preston strike a deal for St Johnstone midfielder McCann.
North End secured a £1.2million deal for one of Scottish football’s top talents, who has excelled under former Preston ace Callum Davidson at St Johnstone.
A domestic double winner last season and a player who starred against Turkish giants Galatasaray this summer, 21-year-old McCann represents a major coup for North End.
Who departed Preston this summer?
Paul Gallagher
Preston legend Gallagher called time on his playing career, hanging up his boots after a 19-year professional career.
Gallagher racked up 313 games for Preston, notching 44 goals and 69 assists across three loan spells and one six-year permanent stint.
Gallagher is still at Preston having turned his attention to coaching full-time, but he will be a big miss in North End’s midfield.
Jayden Stockley
Striker Stockley just never really worked out for Preston, though you could argue that’s because he never had a consistent run of games and never played in a side that truly played to his strengths.
After a successful loan spell at Charlton Athletic in the second half of last season, the Addicks signed Stockley permanently, pipping Portsmouth to his signature.
Billy Bodin
Bodin joined North End in January 2018 and often showed moments of magic without ever really putting it all together on a consistent basis.
Injuries sadly ruined Bodin’s time at Preston, and having been released by North End, he signed for Karl Robinson’s Oxford United side in League One.
Graham Burke
One of the strangest signings in recent times, Burke joined from Shamrock Rovers in the summer of 2018 but was gone within six months.
Burke spent more time out on loan than he did around Preston’s first team, and with his contract expiring this summer, he rejoined Shamrock Rovers permanently.
Josh Ginnelly
Signed in the same transfer window as Stockley – January 2019 – Ginnelly only ever played nine times for Preston after signing from Walsall.
The speedy winger impressed on loan at Hearts last season, and completed a permanent move up to Edinburgh this summer when Preston allowed his contract to expire.
Louis Moult
A popular figure in the Preston fanbase, especially after that goal at Nottingham Forest, Moult was a hard-working player on the pitch and a credit to North End off it.
Much like Bodin though, Moult’s injury problems wrecked his Preston career, with his last appearance coming against Swansea City in August 2019.
Moult won a deal with Burton Albion this summer, but has immediately picked up another big injury and will miss the rest of 2021.
David Nugent
Nugent’s second spell with Preston didn’t go to plan, but that doesn’t change that he is a North End legend and always will be.
Signed on a two-year deal in 2019, Nugent only managed one goal upon his return to Deepdale and was, in truth, never going to hit the heights of his first spell.
Nugent left very quietly when his contract expired, and it’s sad that such a club hero left under such a cloud.
Jacob Holland-Wilkinson
Young striker Holland-Wilkinson has moved into non-league on loan, joining AFC Fylde for first-team experience.
Working under Jim Bentley should be great for his development, and hopefully we see him in the first team setup one day.
Tom Bayliss
A major disappointment so far at Preston, Bayliss hasn’t lived up to the £1.2million North End paid to sign him from Coventry City in 2019.
Bayliss scored on the final day of last season at Nottingham Forest, suggesting he could play a big role, but it just hasn’t happened.
Bayliss has now joined Wigan Athletic on loan for the season, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he has already played his final game for Preston.