Stanley Mills, the Oxford United winger linked with a move to Portsmouth earlier this summer, has completed a permanent transfer to Championship rivals Preston North End. The 22-year-old's move concludes a transfer saga that saw Pompey manager John Mousinho reportedly earmark him as a potential attacking option, according to a report from portsmouth.co.uk.
Portsmouth's interest in Mills was contingent on their pursuit of primary target Abu Kamara. The club secured Kamara's emotional Fratton Park homecoming from Hull City for a fee of £2.5 million, with the 23-year-old forward expected to be the main right winger. A similar figure would have been required to land Mills, but Pompey's focus remained on their prime target.
Why did Portsmouth's interest in Mills fade?
National reports suggested John Mousinho had identified Stanley Mills as a potential option. Stoke City were also said to be keen on the Oxford United player. However, Portsmouth's strategy was clear. They viewed Mills as a backup plan only if they failed to re-sign Abu Kamara. Once the Kamara deal was completed, Pompey's direct interest in the Oxford winger understandably cooled. The club had allocated a significant portion of their summer budget to secure their main target, making a concurrent move for another player in the same position and price range unlikely.
This context is important as Portsmouth prepare for their next Championship fixture, an away match against Bristol City on August 29th. You can track the team's progress and upcoming games on our fixtures page. The Blues currently sit 10th in the table with three points from their opening two matches, having scored and conceded four goals for a zero goal difference.
How did Preston North End secure the deal?
Preston's pursuit of Stanley Mills was a lengthy one. They first agreed a deal in principle worth around £2 million to sign the player back in January. That initial agreement was made earlier this month, but Oxford United's circumstances complicated matters. The League One club, managed by Aaron Ramsey, were under a temporary transfer embargo and were unwilling to sanction an exit for Mills or other top assets before the summer window closed. They were unable to recruit suitable replacements during the embargo.
After a poor start to the 2024-25 campaign, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom pushed to complete the deal in the current summer window. Preston returned with improved terms, and Oxford United reluctantly gave Mills permission to leave. The winger has now signed a three-year contract with Preston that runs until the summer of 2029.
What did Oxford United's manager say?
Oxford boss Aaron Ramsey confirmed the player's desire to move on before Tuesday's transfer deadline. "Stan made it clear that he wanted to pursue other things so we wish him all the best of luck," Ramsey said. The departure concludes a summer saga for the League One club, who were hampered by their embargo at a critical time.
Mills joins a host of other new faces at Deepdale this summer, including Alfie Devine, Delano Burgzorg, Harry Clarke, Leo Leroy, Lee Nicholls, Jusef Erabi, and Caleb Wiley. His move ends any lingering speculation about a switch to Fratton Park this year.
What does this mean for Portsmouth's season?
With Abu Kamara firmly installed as the first-choice right winger, Portsmouth can now fully focus on their Championship campaign. The squad details and player statistics are available on our squad and stats pages. The team's early form shows promise, but consistency will be key. They are currently three points behind early leaders Millwall in the title race. Securing their primary target in Kamara, rather than pursuing a secondary option like Mills, appears to have been the correct strategic decision for John Mousinho's side as they build for the challenges ahead in a competitive division.
