Despite the deadline of 7 pm coming and going, many teams across League One and the EFL were still in the midst of finishing up their transfer business due to the introduction of deal sheets for the first time.
That two-hour extension came in handy for many teams, such as Bolton Wanderers, who got their loan move for Celtic‘s Johnny Kenny done minutes after the official close of business.
And while many clubs have earned plaudits for their efforts on the final day, one club which may have gone under the radar with their business on the final day is Ian Evatt’s Blackpool.
Double Deal Sheet Move Heralds Clarkson Arrival
It was one in, one out for the Tangerines following the deadline, with Lee Evans being offloaded to Bradford City on a permanent deal, bringing to an end an 18-month association with the 31-year-old after a fairly tough season.
Having been a regular star under previous manager Steve Bruce, Evatt’s arrival at Blackpool saw him moved out of the starting eleven, with an injury to Albie Morgan seeing him return to regular action in his final few weeks.
That move facilitated the arrival of Leighton Clarkson from Aberdeen, who was signed for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract, bringing one of the Scottish Premiership’s top midfielders to the Lancashire coast.
An outcast at Pittodrie due to disputes with the sacked Jimmy Thelin, the 24-year-old was allowed to leave, having briefly been linked to Luton Town earlier on Deadline Day.
Upgrade Could Rescue Seasiders Season
Lee Evans had a fairly tough season at Blackpool, with some issues in his defensive actions, which saw him only complete 22 tackles, which ranks him in the bottom 40% of midfielders in League One.
His disciplinary record also left a lot to be desired, with only Conor McGrandles, Matthew Sorinola and new teammate Max Power picking up more yellow cards across the campaign than the Welshman.
Evans’ exit and Clarkson’s arrival should bring some more optimism in the midfield’s effectiveness heading into the remainder of the season, though, as the former Liverpool academy graduate has delivered consistently at Aberdeen.
Passing has been a big strength of Clarkson’s game, ranking top of midfielders in the Premiership for long-range accuracy last season, and he has long been one of the better players for chance creation and retaining possession on top of his set-piece prowess.
Ending #DeadlineDay with a cracker! 💪
🍊 #UTMP pic.twitter.com/4r94Pu8Zcw
— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) February 2, 2026
With European experience under his belt in the Conference League over the past two seasons in as well as his efforts in securing a Scottish Cup for the Dons, the versatile midfielder should be able to become an immediate leader in the middle of the park alongside Jordan Brown.
While his physicality may leave a lot to be desired, Blackpool’s new boy should be able to become a crucial player at Bloomfield Road and someone who could drastically change the fortunes of Ian Evatt’s side as they hope to stave off relegation.