Preston North End have been highlighted as one of the busiest teams in the Championship this window. With Paul Heckingbottom using this summer as a squad overhaul, the seventh and eighth signings have just joined the Lilywhites.
After the news broke that Sheffield Wednesday’s striker, Michael Smith, had signed for the Lancashire side on a free deal, the Deepdale occupiers teased another signing within the same hour.
A 5pm announcement broke over on X, with North End unveiling Jack Walton as their latest goalkeeping recruitment. The Luton Town shot-stopper had only been linked with Heckingbottom’s side for a couple of days and a quick turnaround has landed Preston with a great second-choice ‘keeper.
“A Massive Club”
Walton offered his thoughts on his latest endeavour in English football:
“I’m delighted to get it done and I’m really excited to meet the lads, get in, and start training. When I knew of the interest here, it was something I really wanted to get done.
“It’s a massive club.”
While also providing Daniel Iversen much-needed competition, Walton will bring an important skillset to the North End lineup following an excellent first-tier loan spell with Dundee United last season. Dai Cornell, who stepped up following spells of injuries to Freddie Woodman last campaign, will likely be the next to leave in this goalkeeping department overhaul.
The 27-year-old never featured for Luton, but was a decent back-up at Barnsley from 2017 until his Hatters switch in January 2023. Two seasons with Dundee United in a lengthy temporary spell handed Walton 85 appearances where he even offered one assist in the Scottish Championship season.
Writer’s View
Walton is a smart pick-up from Preston, with the Lancashire side strengthening in important squad depth to get through the next campaign. Investment elsewhere has given the North End some prized assets too: Thierry Small and Odel Offiah.
However, the 27-year-old probably won’t be expected to start many games over Iversen, limited to mainly cup involvement. The Dane has already cemented himself as first choice this pre-season with a real highlight on social media being his likeable presence behind the scenes.
PNE are two or three important signings away from giving it a real go in the Championship next season, but look to have cleared any worries of a last-campaign repeat. A likely addition of a left-sided or central defender may follow this flurry of incomings. A striker has also been talked about, with a potential record-breaking fee needed to keep up with some of the competition in the second division.
