Lee Nicholls - Stats, Rating & Scouting Report

Profile

Full nameLee Anthony Nicholls

PositionGoalkeeper

NationalityEngland

Age33

Date of birth5 Oct 1992

BirthplaceLiverpool

Height195 cm

Shirt number#22

ClubPreston

More about L. Nicholls →

Goalkeeper

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

33

Appearances

9

Clean sheets

27%

CS rate

share of apps kept clean

2859

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Huddersfield.

Also this season

Earlier this season at Huddersfield — League Cup: 3 apps, 0g 0a, 287 min

Earlier this season at Huddersfield — EFL Trophy: 3 apps, 0g 0a, 270 min

The headline Season rating covers his time at Preston; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.

Career

Full career & schedule →

League One×2

Nicholls's current-season form is up 20% on last season (Season 15→18), while his Rating eased 22→18. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 55).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	CS	CS%	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Huddersfield · 9th	33	9	27%	6.86	18	18
2024/25	Huddersfield · 10th	29	7	24%	6.79	22	15
2023/24	Huddersfield · 23rd	37	6	16%	6.82	39	8
2022/23	Huddersfield · 18th	28	6	21%	7.03	42	11
2021/22	Huddersfield · 3rd	46	19	41%	7.2	57	55

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 10 earlier seasons in the full career.

Career

Full career & schedule →

Domestic career

Scout report

Experienced headGoalkeeper

L. Nicholls is a 33-year-old goalkeeper at Huddersfield, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 0 assists in 33 appearances, a Season grade of 18. On long-term scout potential he's rated 17.9. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (69.1% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nicholls.

On the season, Nicholls graded 18 for current form (age-blind), on 9 clean sheets across 33 appearances.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 15 → 18). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 18. At 33 Nicholls is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2021/22Trending upStreakyStepped up 2021/22

17.9

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

18.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

69.1%

Minutes

a regular starter

0.09

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Huddersfield finished 9th of 24 · a mid-table side

33

Apps

9

Clean sheets

27%

CS rate

69.1%

Minutes

9 clean sheets in 33 appearances (27% of games).

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 69.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 17.9 overall — below regular-starter level. A a regular starter keeper carrying the gloves this season. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %69.1%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 900.094

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900.094

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~14), then tapers with age. At 33, Nicholls sits on 2.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Nicholls's projected Rating — 17.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among goalkeepers in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Goalkeeping

Clean sheets9

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

Red cards0

Transfer history

PrestonJun 2026 – now

HuddersfieldJul 2021 – Jun 2026Free

Milton Keynes DonsAug 2016 – Jul 2021

Wigan(back from loan)Dec 2015 – Aug 2016

Bristol Rovers(on loan)Sept 2015 – Dec 2015

Wigan(back from loan)Jul 2013 – Sept 2015

Northampton(on loan)until Jul 2013

Accrington ST(on loan)Feb 2012 – Jul 2013

Shrewsbury(on loan)Feb 2011 – Feb 2012

HHartlepool(on loan)Nov 2010 – Feb 2011

Wiganuntil Nov 2010

Transfer history

About L. Nicholls

Lee Anthony Nicholls is a 33-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Preston, born on October 5, 1992 in Liverpool, standing 195 cm tall. He is from England. Preston currently sit 20th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, L. Nicholls has made 33 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 2,859 minutes, averaging a 5.6 match rating over his last 1 rated games, with 3 yellow cards.

Recent matches

August 26, 2026: 0-4 loss at home vs Everton (90 minutes, 5.6 rating)

L. Nicholls's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Preston face Charlton away in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates L. Nicholls at 17.9 with a Season form score of 18.1. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the League One. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 15 recorded seasons, L. Nicholls has totalled 384 club appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2012/13, with 49 appearances for Northampton.