Preston North End 2026-2027 Season Preview
With the 2026-2027 season now underway, attention is firmly fixed on Deepdale and Preston North End’s latest Championship campaign.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side are looking to build on a 14th-place finish last term, while a reshaped squad has brought fresh competition for places and a number of new challenges.
In this preview we’ll examine the recent campaign, the manager’s approach, summer transfer business, the squad’s key figures and what to expect in the months ahead.
With the new campaign already in progress, there is plenty for Preston supporters to assess as the season develops.
Preston North End 2025-2026 Season Recap
Preston North End finished the 2025-2026 Championship season in 14th place with 60 points. Their record of 15 wins, 15 draws and 16 defeats represented an improvement on the previous campaign, when they finished 20th with 50 points. Preston scored 55 league goals and conceded 62, leaving them with a goal difference of -7.
The season was particularly notable for the contrast between Preston’s strong spells and their eventual position in the table. The team made an encouraging start and spent periods of the campaign competing effectively against promotion-chasing opponents. However, their form declined as the season progressed, meaning the early promise did not translate into a sustained challenge for the play-offs.
There were also opportunities to progress in the cup competitions, although neither produced a lengthy run. Preston were eliminated by Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup and by Wrexham in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Individually, several players made important contributions. Lewis Dobbin finished the campaign with 11 goals in all competitions, while Alfie Devine scored eight times. Daniel Iversen was another important figure, with the goalkeeper featuring prominently during the campaign.
Who Is The Manager of Preston North End?
Paul Heckingbottom is the manager of Preston North End. He was appointed in August 2024 following the departure of Ryan Lowe and remains in charge for the 2026-2027 campaign. Heckingbottom arrived with previous Championship experience and had guided Sheffield United to promotion to the Premier League in 2022-2023.
His first season at Preston ended with the club finishing 20th, but the 2025-2026 campaign brought a significant improvement in points and league position. Preston collected 60 points last season, although the team’s second-half-of-the-season decline meant they finished outside the play-off places.
Heckingbottom has generally looked to give his side a clear structure while maintaining an attacking threat. His approach has also involved blending established Championship players with younger footballers, something reflected in the roles given to players such as Devine and other younger members of the squad.
The challenge for the manager this season is to improve consistency while adapting to the changes made to the squad during the summer.
Preston North End Summer Transfer Activity
Preston’s summer transfer business has involved both permanent additions and loans. One of the most significant moves was the permanent return of Alfie Devine from Tottenham Hotspur after his impressive loan spell at Deepdale during the previous campaign. Devine scored eight Championship goals in 2025-2026 and has now become a permanent member of Heckingbottom’s squad.
Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls also joined Preston from Huddersfield Town on a two-year deal, providing competition for Daniel Iversen. The 33-year-old arrived with extensive experience of English league football.
Delano Burgzorg joined from Middlesbrough on a season-long loan and has already featured for Preston during the opening weeks of the campaign. He provided an assist and scored the winning penalty during his competitive debut against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup.
Jusef Erabi has also arrived on loan from Genk, adding another attacking option, while the club has continued to make changes in other areas of the squad. The recruitment has been partly shaped by the number of players who returned to their parent clubs after loan spells in 2025-2026.
There have been notable departures too. Ben Whiteman left Preston for Wrexham in August after more than five years at Deepdale, ending his time as club captain. Robbie Brady and Will Keane left when their contracts expired, while Daniel Jebbison, Lewis Dobbin and Milos Luković returned to their parent clubs after their loan agreements ended.
The result is a squad with a different balance from last season. Devine’s permanent arrival provides continuity, while the departures of several experienced or influential players mean other members of the squad will be expected to take on greater responsibility.
Who are Preston North End’s Key Players?
Alfie Devine is one of the most important players to watch after making his move to Preston permanent. The attacking midfielder made a major contribution during his loan spell in 2025-2026, scoring eight Championship goals, and his ability to operate between midfield and attack gives Heckingbottom an important creative option.
Daniel Iversen remains an important presence in goal. He made 35 league appearances during the 2025-2026 campaign and produced a number of important performances, while the arrival of Lee Nicholls gives Preston additional competition in the position.
In defence, Lewis Gibson and Jordan Storey are among the players who have been regular contributors, while midfielders such as Ali McCann and Jordan Thompson provide further experience and depth. The departure of Ben Whiteman means there is also an opportunity for other midfielders to assume greater responsibility within the team.
With several younger players also competing for opportunities, squad depth could become increasingly important as the Championship schedule develops.
What Are Preston North End’s Season Expectations?
Preston enter the campaign with the aim of improving on last season’s 14th-place finish and avoiding the inconsistency that affected the second half of the previous campaign. A return to the upper half of the Championship would represent an improvement, while a sustained challenge for the play-off positions would require the team to turn more competitive performances into victories.
The club will also need to cope with the loss of several players who made significant contributions in 2025-2026. The departures of Whiteman, Dobbin and the returning loan players have changed the squad, making the integration of new arrivals and the continued development of younger players particularly important.
There are reasons for optimism. Devine is now a permanent member of the squad, Iversen remains an important presence in goal and new arrivals such as Nicholls and Burgzorg provide additional options. The club has also invested heavily in improving the playing surface at Deepdale, following concerns over the condition of the pitch during the previous campaign.
Ultimately, consistency will be the key measure of progress. Preston showed during 2025-2026 that they could compete with strong Championship opposition, but sustaining that level over a full season will be crucial if they are to move significantly higher up the table.
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