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Kian Taylor 1 month loan to Altrincham

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Bowler loan ends

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reston North End are delighted to confirm Ryan Porteous has joined the club on loan from Watford.

The central defender will spend the remainder of the season at Deepdale and will take the No.2 shirt.

Ryan arrives with experience of playing regularly in the Championship and also on the international stage with Scotland.

Ryan said: “I’m delighted. It’s all come about quite fast. When the manager spoke to me, having worked with him before at Hibs, I was pretty sure that I was going to come here.

“I'm looking forward to it. I think at the age I am now, I need a consistent run of games and a healthy environment. I feel that Preston can provide that right now.”


The 25-year-old began his career with his boyhood club Hibernian, where he worked with PNE manager Paul Heckingbottom.

After more than 150 appearances for Hibs, Ryan made the move to England to join up with Watford in January 2023.

He’s since featured 82 times for the Hornets and the defender has also earned 12 caps for Scotland, including an appearance at the 2024 European Championships.

Paul Heckingbottom said: “I’m really pleased we’ve managed to bring Ryan in. He’s a player I know well from my time at Hibernian and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

“We’re unfortunately going to be missing Jordan Storey for a while through injury, so it’s a position which we wanted to cover and we’ve managed to do that by adding quality with Ryan.

“He’s an international defender with experience of playing regularly in the Championship, so he’ll be a good addition for us between now and the end of the season

Preston North End are delighted to confirm Kitt Nelson has signed a new contract with the club.

The 20-year-old, who has progressed through the PNE Academy since joining at an early age, has signed a new deal to keep him at Deepdale until at least 2028.

He will now join up with Cork City ahead of the start of their season and will remain at Turners Cross until 30th June.

Kitt said: “I’m over the moon really. I’ve been here since I was eight so to sign a new deal, I’m just delighted and looking forward to the hard work ahead.

“When you’re young, you’re always trying to impress and earn yourself a contract with the aim of breaking into the first team. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to really kick on over the next few years.

“I can’t thank the gaffer enough for what he’s done for me. He’s brought me up to the first team environment and I’ve noticed myself improving every day.

“I’m really excited for my loan spell at Cork now, too. They’ve got good fans out there and they’re a big ambitious club so I’m delighted with the opportunity to get some more experience.”

Kitt was predominantly an attacker coming through the ranks at North End, scoring plenty of goals throughout the age groups and particularly for the U19s.

He’s shown versatility this season, though, as he’s operated on the right of a back four or as a wing-back in Premier League Cup matches and in the Central League.

Kitt has been involved in four Championship matchday squads this season and has regularly trained with the first team at Euxton.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “Kitt’s definitely deserved his new deal. He’s a great lad with a top attitude and he’s worked really hard ever since I arrived.

“I think his loan to Cork will do him the world of good in terms of going out and getting that experience in a good league and getting used to playing men’s football.”

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Preston North End are delighted to confirm Max Wilson has signed his first professional deal with the club.

The 18-year-old has penned a contract to keep him at Deepdale until at least the summer of 2027, with the club holding the option of extending by an additional year.

Max, in the second year of his scholarship, will now head out on his first loan spell to join up with Irish side Galway United until 30th November 2025.

Speaking after signing his new deal, Max said: “I’m delighted after being here for so long. It’s good to be able to go to that next step and keep pushing on.

“The loan to Galway is an opportunity for me to play men's football and get me ready because obviously I want to push onto the first team here and play in front of fans every week. It's a whole different level compared to Academy football.



“If I do well there, then hopefully I can take what I've learned and come back here and impress.”

Max joined the club as an U9 and has worked his way through the ranks to becoming a professional. Even before becoming a scholar, the midfielder – who’s also capable of playing as a striker – was featuring regularly for the U19s, and he was named Scholar of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 season.

That was a successful campaign for the youngster, as he captained the team to both league and cup title victories.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “Max is a player highly regarded within our Academy system and he’s been a key player in the U21s and reserve matches so far this season.

“His ability and physicality for his age is clear to see so it’ll be great for Max to go out to Ireland and get his first taste of men’s football, before coming back to us.”

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Preston North End can confirm Duane Holmes has left the club to pursue an opportunity to move to MLS.

Duane has featured for the Lilywhites on 72 occasions since his arrival in the summer of 2023, scoring six times in a PNE shirt.

The 30-year-old has now joined up with Houston Dynamo and leaves with the very best wishes of everyone at the club.

Duane said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time at PNE. I want to say a big thank you to the fans for their support throughout my time here. I have met many great people and wish the lads nothing but success.



“I want to say a special thank you to Ben Rhodes, Doc Lakeland and Peter Ridsdale for everything they have done for me and my family.

“See you all soon, Duane.”

Manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “Duane has been presented with an opportunity to take his family out to the States and it’s one that he can’t turn down, which we completely understand.

“I spoke to Duane about this move a while back and said that I definitely wouldn’t stand in his way if it’s something which he wanted to pursue.

“He’s been brilliant to work with and I wish him and his family all the best.”

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Ledson to leave

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Kian Taylor leaving

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Ryan Ledson is a White
He hates Blackpool




Preston North End can confirm Ryan Ledson will leave the football club this summer after a seven-year stint at Deepdale.

The central midfielder, whose contract is set to expire at the end of June, has made 215 appearances in a North End shirt since his arrival in 2018.

Ledo signed for PNE from Oxford United for his first taste of Championship football and soon proved himself in the second tier. In the 2020/21 campaign, the former Everton midfielder was rewarded for an impressive season by receiving the Sir Tom Finney Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year award.

Going on to become an established member of the dressing room, Ryan was often given the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband and proudly led the Lilywhites on a number of occasions.

During the 2024/25 season, Ryan reached the 200-appearance milestone for North End and played his final game for the club on the last day of the campaign, as PNE secured Championship safety.

Ryan said: “I’ve had the best seven years that I could have asked for. This club means so much to me.

“I want to thank everyone at the club, from the staff behind the scenes to the owner and Peter.

“Thank you to the fans too for all the support you’ve given me over the years. I’m glad my last game for the club went as well as it did and I could have that moment with the fans at the end.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time here and I wish everyone at the club nothing but the best for the future.”

Ryan departs with the sincere thanks and best wishes of everyone at Preston North End.

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Layton Stewart has completed a permanent move to FC Thun for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old striker, who joined North End from Liverpool in 2023, initially headed on loan to the Swiss side in January 2025.

Layton has since gone on to help Thun clinch the second tier title and he has now joined the club on a permanent basis.

Layton made 16 appearances during his time at Deepdale and moves on with the best wishes of everyone at Preston North End.

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Preston North End can confirm a number of players will be leaving the club at the end of their contract.

As has already been announced, Ryan Ledson’s seven-year stint at Deepdale will come to an end this summer, after making 215 appearances for the Lilywhites.

Emil Riis, scorer of almost 50 goals in a PNE shirt since his arrival in 2020, will say goodbye to the club when his contract comes to an end in June.

Also moving on this summer will be goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who has made 138 appearances for North End and was named the club’s Player of the Year at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

After featuring 105 times in a PNE shirt, Patrick Bauer will depart Deepdale at the end of his contract, as will Kian Best and Kian Taylor who progressed through the North End Academy to go on and represent their boyhood club.

Robbie Brady, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, has been offered a new deal. Ched Evans is in discussions to continue in a coaching capacity at the club.

Josh Seary is set to sign a six-month extension to his deal as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.

Midfielder Kaedyn Kamara has signed his first two-year professional contract, and Kacper Pasiek is also in negotiations to sign a pro deal. Third-year scholars Cole McGhee and Tommy Davis have been released.

Contracted Professionals
Ali McCann
Andrew Hughes
Ben Whiteman
Brad Potts
Dai Cornell
Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile
Jack Whatmough
James Pradic
Jeppe Okkels
Jordan Storey
Kitt Nelson
Lewis Gibson
Liam Lindsay
Mads Frøkjær
Max Wilson
Milutin Osmajić
Noah Mawene
Stefán Thórdarson
Will Keane

In Negotiations
Ched Evans (coaching role)
Josh Seary
Kacper Pasiek
Robbie Brady

Out Of Contract And Released
Emil Riis
Freddie Woodman
Kian Best
Kian Taylor
Patrick Bauer
Ryan Ledson

Loan Players Returning To Parent Clubs
Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Jayden Meghoma
Ryan Porteous
Sam Greenwood

U19 Players With One-Year Option Activated
Harry Stringfellow
Jonny Brindle
Theo Carroll
Theo Mawene
Troy Tarry

Scholars Released
Ayden Garrigan
Cole McGhee
Dylan Gairns
Peter Critchley
Tommy Davis

Everyone at Preston North End would like to thank all departing players for their dedication and efforts during their time with the club and wish them all the very best for the future.