PNE struck gold in the loan market during the 2025/26 season

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom doesn’t want to rely on the loan market as much moving forward.

But, the Lilywhites chief knows it will still play a key role as PNE look to progress after his first two seasons. So far, Heckingbottom has been able to work with some top loan talent: Alfie Devine, Lewis Dobbin, Harrison Armstrong, Kaine Kesler-Hayden to name a few.

Undoubtedly, the Deepdale club will be dipping into that market once again this summer, eyeing more success. At which point, it’s worth casting an eye towards the players who spent last season out on loan.

One thing PNE have done well in recent years is pick up players at the right stage of their careers. Dobbin, Kesler-Hayden and Devine all had loan spells at other clubs prior to joining North End, as did Sam Greenwood and Daniel Jebbison.

Championship loans ending - by position

Goalkeepers: Radek Vitek, Carl Rushworth, Joe Wildsmith, Steven Benda, Anthony Patterson, Joe Lumley, Murphy Cooper, Seny Dieng, Daniel Peretz, George Long, Gavin Bazunu

Right-backs: Harry Clarke, James Bree, Ki-Jana Hoever, Elias Jelert, Danny Imray

Centre-backs: Eiran Cashin, Conor Coady, Dion Sanderson, Cedric Kipre, Christ Makosso, Ben Davies, Aji Alese, Tyler Bindon, Leo Hjelde, Kaelan Casey, Saba Goglichidze, Stephen Mfuni, Formose Mendy

Left-backs: Neto Borges, Luke Chambers, Owen Beck, Matt Targett, Harry Amass, Ruben Roosken, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tayo Adaramola, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Charlie Taylor

Centre midfielders: Tommy Doyle, Jhon Solis, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Frank Onyeka, David Ozoh, Amir Hadziahmetovic, John Lundstram, Toby Collyer, Jens Cajuste, Dan Neil, Joe Aribo, Alan Browne, Will Smallbone, Sam Field, Yunus Konak, Djibril Soumare, Kalvin Phillips, Jaden Heskey, Malick Yalcouye, Pierre Ekwah

Attacking midfielders: George Earthy, Romain Esse, Bobby Clark, Divine Mukasa, Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey, Jamie Donley, Conor Chaplin, Alfie Devine, Leo Walta, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Hindolo Mustapha, Jeremy Sarmiento

Right wingers: Jayden Fevrier, Min-hyeok Yang, Yu Hirakawa, Florian Bianchini, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Left wingers: Ibrahim Osman, Lewis Koumas, Jaydon Banel, Joel Ndala, Tommy Watson, Thierno Ballo, Gustavo Cabellero, Millenic Alli, Gustavo Nunes, Samuel Iling-Junior

Forwards: Delano Burgzorg, Ben Brereton Diaz, Sammie Szmodics, Ivan Azon, Chuba Akpom, Dujuan Richards, Will Lankshear, Jacob Brown, Lewis Dobbin, Milos Lukovic, Daniel Jebbison, Jerry Yates, Cyle Larin, Milan Smit, Divin Mubama