Blackpool have brought Jerry Yates back to the club on a season-long loan, a move that restores a proven goalscorer to Ian Evatt's squad ahead of the new campaign.
The 29-year-old striker scored 42 goals in 124 league appearances for Blackpool between 2020 and 2023, and his return gives the club a familiar attacking option after his spell away at Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
A familiar face with a proven record
Yates left Blackpool in 2023 before joining Luton from Swansea City last August. His time at Kenilworth Road did not produce the numbers he may have wanted, with the striker scoring twice in 22 League One appearances before moving on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of the campaign.
He then scored four goals in 18 Championship appearances for Sheffield Wednesday last season. That run showed he can still contribute at a higher level, even if the consistency was not the same as during his first spell at Blackpool.
Why the return matters for Blackpool
For Blackpool, this is about more than nostalgia. Yates knows the club, knows the expectation and has already shown he can deliver over a sustained period there. In a league campaign, that kind of familiarity can matter just as much as raw talent.
His arrival also gives Blackpool a striker with immediate credibility. Rather than waiting for a new signing to settle, they are getting a player who has already proved himself in the shirt.
Yates could feature in Saturday's home game against Peterborough United, giving supporters the chance to see him back in action quickly. If he can quickly rediscover the rhythm he had in his first spell, this could be one of Blackpool's most important moves of the summer.
