Peter Leven confirmed that Leighton Clarkson's desire to leave Aberdeen was for family reasons, stating that Clarkson wanted to return home to be near his family. Leven added that Clarkson recently had a baby with his partner and that his parents are still in that area, which Leven believes was a primary reason for the move.

English central midfielder Leighton Clarkson, 24, moved from Aberdeen to Blackpool on February 2, 2026, and signed a contract that lasts until June 30, 2028. In the 2025/2026 season, he made 13 appearances in the Scottish Premiership. Clarkson has 5 caps for the England U20 team. His current market value on Transfermarkt is €1.00m. It was reported that in July 2023, Aberdeen purchased the player from Liverpool for a fee between €600,000 and €1,200,000.