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+----- Thread: Championship players in and out (/showthread.php?tid=2727)
RE: Championship players in and out - themaclad - 03-02-2026
Preston North End are delighted to announce the signing of Callum Lang on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.
The 27-year-old has made a permanent move from Portsmouth FC for a club-record fee.
Callum has scored twice in eight Championship appearances this term and is looking forward to adding to that tally as a North End player.
Callum said: “I’m really happy to be here. It’s been a late one, quite last-minute, but I'm really excited to get going. I think this was a good move for me. I'm really thankful for my time at Portsmouth, but I feel like this next step was the perfect one for me.
“I'm excited about what the club's trying to do here, and I think I can really help on the pitch also. I know what I can do at this level, and I'm really excited to do so and show the fans what I can bring as a player.”
The forward joined Wigan Athletic at age 14, where he progressed through their academy before going on to feature 143 times for the Latics, netting 31 goals during that period of time.
Lang then made the move to Portsmouth in January 2024, where he helped John Mousinho’s side clinch the EFL League One title at the end of his first season at the club.
North End’s new man excelled at Fratton Park, with his shining moment coming against Coventry City, when he bagged all four goals in a 4-1 victory over the Sky Blues.
Paul Heckingbottom said: “I’m delighted. It's been a tough one to get over the line and get done. We've worked really hard to get the deal done, so delighted we could get it over the line in the end.
“He brings Championship experience; he’s scored goals wherever he's been. He is a versatile attacking player, but we're really clear about how we want to use him. Getting him in the box, being really aggressive to attack the ball and being really aggressive out of possession as well.”
Preston North End are delighted to announce the signing of Andrew Moran on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.
The midfielder has made a permanent move from Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.
Moran, 22, spent the first half of this season out on loan in the MLS with LAFC before opting to sign for the Lilywhites.
Andrew said: “I’m delighted to be here. It's really exciting. You can see how well the team's doing and how well they're working together. It's a place I think any player would want to come and play, looking in from the outside.
“The lads have done a great job over this season. Some of the results they've been picking up have been excellent and the league position says that. So, I’m very excited to be here now.”
The Republic of Ireland international has impressed from an early age, becoming Bray Wanderers’ youngest-ever League of Ireland player when he made his first team debut aged 15 in 2019.
Moran has previous experience in the EFL Championship, enjoying loan spells with Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City in consecutive seasons.
The Dubliner excelled in Brighton’s youth ranks, recording 14 goals and 10 assists in 42 PL2 appearances, before going on to feature three times for the Seagulls’ senior side.
Paul Heckingbottom said: “Andy is someone we've been speaking to for a bit in the window. We’re delighted to have got another one who is our player, a young player, who has competed in the Championship and is a full international.
“He’s a good age, so it's a really good signing, not only for now for the club, but what we want to do going forward as well.”
Preston North End can confirm that Mads Frøkjær has completed a permanent move to Danish Superliga side Brøndby IF for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old joined PNE in the summer of 2023 and went on to make 107 appearances for the Lilywhites.
Mads scored eight goals and provided 13 assists during that time, with that tally including important strikes against Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday during the 2025/26 campaign.
Everyone at the club would like to thank Mads for his efforts during his spell at North End and wish him all the very best for the future.