Preston have moved for two different needs at once, signing Johnny Kenny from Celtic on a permanent deal and bringing in Liam Gibbs from Norwich on a season-long loan. The broad idea is clear enough: Kenny gives Paul Heckingbottom another option up front, while Gibbs adds experience and flexibility in midfield. With Preston coming off four defeats and one win in their last five competitive and friendly matches, fresh depth was not hard to justify.

Kenny leaves Celtic after five years at Parkhead and arrives at 23 on a four-year contract. Gibbs comes in with a different profile, younger than some established Championship midfielders but already with more than 100 matches for Norwich behind him.

Kenny's role up front

Heckingbottom's first description of Kenny was about movement. Speaking to bbc.co.uk, he said: "He's a player who likes to play on the last line and make runs in behind; he's a sharp player."

That points to a striker Preston can use higher up the pitch and earlier in attacks, rather than one dropping in constantly to link play. Heckingbottom also said: "He's lively in the box and will look to get shots off, left foot, right foot. He works hard for the team."

There is a decent recent scoring spell behind that profile too. Kenny spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, scored six goals in 14 appearances and helped Bolton win promotion from League One. He also scored seven goals in 32 games for Celtic before the move.

Preston are not pretending he is a finished answer from day one. Heckingbottom told bbc.co.uk: "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."

That feels like the honest way to frame the signing. Kenny has shown he can score when used regularly, especially in his Bolton spell, but Preston's staff clearly see the next step as fitting his running and box movement into a defined structure.

Gibbs gives Preston a different kind of addition

Gibbs arrives on loan, so the commitment is different, but the reasoning sounds straightforward. Preston are getting a player with Championship experience who can cover more than one role, even if Heckingbottom already has a preferred position in mind.

Speaking about the former Norwich midfielder, Heckingbottom said: "He's a young boy but has a lot of experience in this league."

He went further on where he sees him fitting, adding: "He's a good athlete, technical player; he's been used in a number of positions at Norwich, but I see him as a central midfielder."

That matters for how this double deal should be read. Kenny is the longer-term permanent investment in the front line. Gibbs looks more like immediate cover and competition in the middle, with enough league experience to settle quickly after playing more than 100 matches for Norwich.

Heckingbottom's final line on Gibbs was probably the most revealing of the lot: "He's got know-how, experience in the league, and has shown real quality over the past few years."

What these signings say about Preston's window

Preston have not solved one problem with one player here. They have added a striker who wants to threaten beyond the defence and a midfielder their manager trusts to play centrally, while still carrying versatility from his time at Norwich.

There is also a practical point in the split between the two deals. Kenny's permanent move suggests Preston think his best years are still ahead of him at 23, while Gibbs' season-long loan gives them a lower-risk way to add experience and legs in midfield.

Given the recent run of four defeats and one win in five matches, neither arrival should be sold as an instant fix. But the recruitment logic is sound. Preston have added one forward with upward momentum after his Bolton loan and one midfielder with a long Championship grounding.

The club's line on both signings is really about fit. Kenny has signed from Celtic after five years there, Gibbs has arrived from Norwich for the season, and Heckingbottom now has two more options in positions Preston clearly wanted to address.

FAQ

Why have Preston North End signed Johnny Kenny and Liam Gibbs?

Preston have strengthened two areas at once. Johnny Kenny arrives from Celtic on a permanent deal as a striker who likes to run in behind, while Liam Gibbs joins from Norwich on a season-long loan as a central midfield option. Paul Heckingbottom has framed both moves around tactical fit rather than instant fixes.

Is Liam Gibbs joining Preston permanently or on loan?

Liam Gibbs has joined Preston on a season-long loan from Norwich. Preston have not signed him permanently. Heckingbottom said he sees Gibbs as a central midfielder, even though he has been used in a number of positions at Norwich.

What kind of striker is Johnny Kenny?

Heckingbottom described Johnny Kenny as a player who likes to play on the last line and make runs in behind. He also said Kenny is lively in the box, will get shots off with his left foot and right foot, and works hard for the team.

What is Johnny Kenny's recent scoring record before joining Preston?

Kenny, who is 23, scored six goals in 14 appearances while on loan at Bolton Wanderers in the second half of last season and helped them win promotion from League One. Across his time with Celtic, he scored seven goals in 32 games before moving to Preston.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →