Blackpool are on the verge of completing the signing of Northern Ireland forward Dale Taylor from Nottingham Forest in a deal reportedly worth over £1 million.
The 21-year-old is expected to sign a permanent contract at Bloomfield Road after a standout campaign on loan at Wigan Athletic last season, where he was named both Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.
Taylor has been one of the most sought-after young attackers in League One and is set to become the latest exciting addition to Steve Bruce’s side as they build for a promotion push.
Standout Season at Wigan
Taylor’s 2024/25 campaign at Wigan cemented his reputation as one of the division’s top forwards. He contributed to 17 league goals (10 goals, 7 assists) in 42 appearances and was among the most productive forwards in the third tier.
He was also recognised with the EFL Goal of the Season for a stunning strike against Charlton Athletic and was shortlisted for League One Young Player of the Season.
Proven League One Performer
The Belfast-born striker has previously impressed during loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Burton Albion, scoring five league goals in each of the previous two seasons.
Taylor originally joined Nottingham Forest from Linfield in 2020 and made his senior Northern Ireland debut aged just 17. Despite limited first-team chances at Forest, his consistent development across loan spells has kept him on the radar of several EFL clubs.
Blackpool are understood to have beaten Plymouth Argyle to his signature.
What They’re Saying
Forest sources describe the deal as “significant” and see it as the right move for a player keen on regular first-team football. Linfield are also expected to receive a financial boost due to a sell-on clause in the original agreement when Taylor moved to the City Ground.
📊 Key FotMob Stats – 2024/25 League One (Wigan):
- Appearances: 42
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 7
- Minutes played: 3,516
- Goals per 90: 0.26 (77th percentile)
- Assists per 90: 0.18 (81st percentile)
- Shots per 90: 2.2 (73rd percentile)
- Key passes per 90: 1.3 (78th percentile)
- Dribbles completed per 90: 1.9 (74th percentile)
- Progressive passes received per 90: 7.6 (82nd percentile)
🟧 ZONE CONFIRMED
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