Preston North End announce deadline day double swoop on big screen during match against Bristol City

Preston North End have announced the double signing of Johnny Kenny from Celtic and Liam Gibbs from Norwich City.

Striker Kenny arrives on a four-year deal after an undisclosed fee was agreed. The Lancashire Post understands that fee is around £3m. Midfielder Gibbs joins on a season-long loan.

The two deals were announced in the 70th minute of Preston North End’s 3-1 defeat to Bristol City this evening, on the big screen at Deepdale. They have now been confirmed on the club’s official channels. They round off the club’s summer business, which has seen 10 players come in and just shy of £20m being spent.

23-year-old Irish striker Kenny started his senior career with Sligo Rovers, with whom he signed a professional contract in January 2021. A year later, after bagging 12 goals across 34 games, he signed for Celtic on a five-year deal.

Loan spells at Queen’s Park and Shamrock Rovers - where he had two stints - followed. In his second season at Shamrock Rovers, he scored 20 goals in 39 matches.

Kenny broke into the Celtic first team in January 2025 and has made 32 appearances for the Bhoys, scoring seven times. In January of this year, he was loaned to Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season and netted six goals in 14 games, also registering three assists.

He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19, under-21 and senior level. He earned his first cap in November 2025 in a 3-2 win in Hungary.

Speaking about the new striker, Heckingbottom told the club website: “He's a player who likes to play on the last line and make runs in behind; he's a sharp player.

"He's lively in the box and will look to get shots off, left foot, right foot. He works hard for the team. We need to do a lot of work with him tactically in terms of how we're going to use him but that's the exciting bit now."

Gibbs, also 23, came through the Ipswich Town academy and made his debut - the first of three appearances for the Tractor Boys - in November 2019. He joined East Anglian rivals in 2021 for an undisclosed fee. He has made 102 appearances for the Canaries, scoring twice. His deal with Norwich expires in 2028.

Heckingbottom said: “He's a young boy but has a lot of experience in this league.

"He's a good athlete, technical player; he's been used in a number of positions at Norwich, but I seem him as a central midfielder.

"He's got know-how, experience in the league, and has shown real quality over the past few years."