‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

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‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

Will Smallbone is ready to embrace a new challenge at Leicester City after signing a three-year deal with the Foxes this week.

2026-10-02T17:00+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

02 Oct, 2026

‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

Will Smallbone is ready to embrace a new challenge at Leicester City after signing a three-year deal with the Foxes this week.

Sam Jones

2026-10-02T17:00+01:00

‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

Will Smallbone is ready to embrace a new challenge at Leicester City after signing a three-year deal with the Foxes this week.

Sam Jones

2026-10-02T17:00+01:00

‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

Will Smallbone is ready to embrace a new challenge at Leicester City after signing a three-year deal with the Foxes this week.

Sam Jones

2026-10-02T17:00+01:00

‘Bring My Experience’ – Smallbone On City Move

Will Smallbone is ready to embrace a new challenge at Leicester City after signing a three-year deal with the Foxes this week.

Sam Jones

2026-10-02T17:00+01:00

The Republic of Ireland international joined us this week following 18 years at Southampton, where he rose through the academy ranks before making 90 senior appearances for the Saints.

Leaving St. Mary’s Stadium over the summer, after an injury-disrupted loan spell at Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship last term, the midfielder has been taking in his new environment, as he prepares to get to work at LCFC Training Ground.

“It feels really good,” he told us, sitting down inside Seagrave for the first time. “It's been a long time in the making, but I’m happy to be here now. I'm really looking forward to the season.

“It's a new experience for me, obviously, moving away permanently (from Southampton), but one that I'm really looking forward to, at a big club like Leicester. I'm really looking forward to being here.

“Definitely game time is massive for me this season, especially with missing most of last season through injury. I've really wanted to come somewhere and get playing as quick as I can. Hopefully this will be a great environment for me to do that.”

Reuniting with Russell Martin, who was a key factor in the decision to make Leicester his next destination, Smallbone hopes to achieve more success together having won promotion to the Premier League in 2024, and believes his knowledge of the Manager’s style of play can help to hit the ground running, despite joining two months into the new season.

“Me and the gaffer got on very well at Southampton,” the 26-year-old continued. “I had a very good season under him at Southampton and I’m looking forward to linking back up with him.

“Hopefully it won't take me too long to get back to playing under him, having spent a long time under him previously. I'm really forward to getting back into that style.

“I know a few of the boys here and met and played against a few of them in my time, so I think that should help me to settle in quite quickly, hopefully.”

Playing exclusively in the top two divisions prior to his arrival at King Power Stadium, Smallbone also boasts experience on the international stage and is looking to do all he can to help us achieve our ambitions for this season.

He added: “Just from the outside looking in, it’s quite a young squad with a mix of experience and hopefully I can bring my own experiences in as well to help bring the Club back closer to where it should be.

“I’ve kept my eye on a few [games]. It's obviously been a bit of a mixed start, but there’s been some very good signs. I can see that the football's going to work and once we all click, I think it's going to be a very strong season.

“Obviously, the only aim is to get promotion straight back to the Championship, so I'm sure that’s the focus of everyone here and, of course, the focus from myself.”

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