Will Smallbone is on the verge of a fresh start, and Leicester City look to be getting a midfielder who already knows exactly how Russell Martin wants his teams to play. The reported three-year deal is more than a simple transfer: it is a reunion, a reset and a chance for a 26-year-old whose recent seasons have been interrupted by injuries to rebuild some momentum.
According to John Percy of The Telegraph, Leicester are set to complete the signing of the former Southampton midfielder, who left Southampton when his contract expired in summer 2026. Smallbone had become a free agent, but the move now gives him a clear route back into regular football under a coach who helped shape one of his best spells.
Why Leicester see value in Smallbone
The strongest case for the move comes from the 2023/24 season, when Smallbone made 50 appearances and scored seven goals for Southampton during their promotion season. That was not just a productive campaign on paper. He also scored in the second leg of Southampton's semi-final against West Brom and assisted Adam Armstrong in the final against Leeds, moments that underline how influential he could be in decisive games.
That matters because Leicester are trying to return to the second tier after ending up in League One, and teams in that position usually need more than name recognition. They need players who can handle the rhythm of a long season, manage pressure in big matches and provide some end product from midfield. Smallbone has already shown he can do that when fit and settled.
There is, of course, a reason the move is viewed as a chance to restart rather than simply continue. Last season, Smallbone spent the campaign on loan at Millwall and made only ten appearances because of injuries. That kind of disruption makes any projection cautious, and it is fair to ask how much of the Southampton version of Smallbone Leicester can realistically expect.
Still, the connection with Russell Martin changes the equation. Smallbone previously played under Martin at Southampton, and his last Southampton campaign under the manager is being treated as the clearest evidence of what he can bring to Leicester. In that sense, this is not a speculative gamble on a mystery fit. It is a manager going back to a player he already trusts.
For Leicester, the logic is straightforward: a free transfer, a three-year commitment and a midfielder with a proven ceiling in a promotion team. For Smallbone, the appeal is just as clear. After an injury-hit spell and a difficult loan at Millwall, he now has the chance to join a club with ambition and a manager who knows how to get the best out of him. If the move goes through as expected, it could be one of those signings that tells a bigger story about recovery as much as recruitment.
