Levels of optimism at Preston North End appear to have risen drastically following the acquisition of Thierry Small from Charlton Athletic. With rumours circling for some time prior, Deepdale will be the versatile wide man’s new home.
Small will join Preston officially on 1st July 2025, immediately following the conclusion of his contract at the Valley. Charlton’s recent promotion success means the 20-year-old will have a high likelihood of facing his former side twice in the upcoming Championship campaign.
The former Everton academy graduate cemented a permanent place in the Addicks’ side last season, offering two goals and five assists from ever-changing roles in Nathan Jones’ set-up. Utilising his pace and off-the-ball physicality, Small has adapted to cover left-back absentees before transferring into a more natural right-wing position in the latter stages of Charlton’s season.
48 appearances in total last campaign caught the eye of Small’s new employers, with Paul Heckingbottom confirming the 20-year-old as the fourth signing already this summer. Jordan Thompson, Daniel Iversen and Pol Valentín have already been unveiled as free transfers, with Small joining this list of smart, risk-free signings. PNE are yet to announce a player with an explicitly attached transfer fee, meaning an expectation of even more purchased quality will be anticipated as the window remains open for the next few months.
A compensation fee and training arrangements will supposedly be settled with Charlton due to the deal being completed before the expiration of Small’s current contract.
The winger’s career has offered less-consistent spells prior to his time at the Valley. Southampton and Everton both only handed the Englishman one appearance professionally, but developed Small through the youth academy system as well as loan deals in the Saints’ case. Eight games on loan at Port Vale in the first half of the 2022-23 season was followed immediately by a one-and-a-half year spell at St. Mirren in Scotland. Charlton then executed a free deal in February 2024.
Small offered his first thoughts on signing for North End in an interview with Preston’s media team:
“I’m over the moon. It’s an exciting time, a big part of my career now and I just can’t wait to get started.
“Speaking with the manager here, I feel like this was the next step for me to take. For me, it’s just to keep on learning, keep on developing and I feel like Preston’s the best club for me to do that whilst helping the team and hopefully achieving some success.”
This was matched by the excitement Heckingbottom expressed following this signing, with the ex-Sheffield United manager highlighting Small’s strengths and ambitions:
“Thierry’s someone we were really keen to bring in and I think he’s matched our enthusiasm by making the decision to sign.
“He wants to come here to work hard and keep improving his game. He’s a player with real pace and power, who loves to get at his man one-v-one and get crosses into the box. I’m looking forward to seeing him in a PNE shirt.”
Writer’s View
A sensationally positive move for Preston has sparked an excitement that many fans of the Lancashire side may not have thought would be experienced this window. With three relatively safe but smart transfers already confirmed, Small has been brought in as a promising talent with high upsell value on a long-term deal.
The versatility that the 20-year-old has emphasised will be exceptionally important for North End as they now fill in a mainly vacant left-back spot as well as both sides of the wing. Heckingbottom has massively over-achieved on the transfer front already at Deepdale.
