Preston North End were amongst a clutch of sides battling against relegation last season. A summer rebuild was needed, and a part of that has seen Spurs youngster Alfie Devine snapped up by the Lilywhites as their 1oth signing.
Preston North End escaped the mires of last season’s relegation battle by just a single point. Devine has been given the No. 21 shirt and he debuted for PNE on Saturday, coming on off the bench against QPR for the final 15 minutes.
On signing, Devine told the club’s official website that he is looking forward to hitting the ground running. On this, he said:
“I like to make people excited. I like to get on the ball.”
The season-long contract bringing him to Deepdale includes an option for the Preston North End to purchase included in the deal.
After initially being on the books at Liverpool as a youth player, Devine moved on to Wigan Athletic and their youth set-up. Financial pressures saw the Latics cash in on him, Spurs snapping up the then 15-year-old to North London in late July 2020.
Devine has EFL experience from two separate half-season loan deals in 2023/24. The first, to League One side Port Vale saw him feature 26 times, scoring three goals and registering three assists. Next up was a half-season loan to Championship side Plymouth Argyle, for whom he featured 15 times, adding two assists.
Last season sat the now 20-year-old was on loan at Belgian side KVC Westerlo and playing in the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s top-tier competition. In 32 games on the continent, he scored six goals and added one assist.
Devine’s Westerlo returns give PNE fans insight
Alfie Devine stats 2024/25 for Westerlo via FotMob
Stat Total %age rank Goals 6 77.6 Expected goals (xG) 5.22 77.6 Shots 51 80.3 Shot on target 18 78.9 Accurate passes 691 84.2 Accurate long balls 53 88.2 Chances created 29 68.4 Touches 1,165 73.7 Touches – opposition box 86 80.3 Ball recoveries 110 81.6 Possession won – final 3rd 16 82.9
The above table gives an insight into Devine’s performance across his Jupiler Pro League campaign for Westerlo. It will be encouraging for PNE fans that he can manage the above in a top-tier, continental competition.
His six goals saw the on-loan youngster slightly outperform his xG (5.22) total. More encouraging is his ability to work into shooting positions (52), which translates to 2.17 shots per 90.
He is also a busy player, making 1,165 touches across the season, a number that relates to 49.55 touches per 90. Encouragingly, for PNE fans, 86 (3.66 per 90) were in the opposition box.
These numbers only indicate the potential that Devine has when it comes to what he is capable of producing over a typical season. Yes, the Spurs youngster has achieved this in a top-tier, continental league. However, the week-in, week-out cut and thrust of the Championship is a different thing altogether.
Devine performance vs QPR
As was likely expected of Devine, he played a substitute role in his first appearance for Preston North End. The Spurs youngster came off the bench on 75 minutes to play out the final throes in the 1-1 draw against QPR.
Whilst on the pitch, he didn’t make a huge impact as the game drifted towards a share of the points for both sides. Still, it is a tentative first step into Championship football for a young player.
As per WhoScored, Devine was tidy with his passing, completing six of seven passes, including one that was a key pass that created a chance for Preston North End. Four of these six completed passes were aimed at the final 3rd of the pitch.
This shows the youngster’s front-foot-forward mindset, inasmuch as he looks to play progressive football. PNE fans didn’t get to see much of him in Saturday’s game, there is enough there to suggest they will.
Dividends to be reaped with Devine intervention
Alfie Devine caught the eye as a 15-year-old at Wigan Athletic. Financial issues at the DW Stadium, now formally the Brick Community Stadium, meant that many of the club’s assets needed to be sold.
The upside for Preston North End fans is that there is evidence from last season’s stint with Westerlo that Devine can do a job for the Lilywhites. Starting carefully, as they have done with this substitute stint against QPR, is the best way forward for all involved.
Whilst the Belgian Jupiler Pro League is a top-tier competition in Europe, it isn’t one of the continent’s big Top five. Still, it is a very good league in preparation for the slog and effort of the Championship.
Alfie Devine has goals in him, is accurate with his passing and creates chances for others. Paul Heckingbottom will have done his homework, of that you can be assured.
There are huge upsides to the loan deal that has seen Spurs youngster Devine land at Deepdale for the season. PNE fans will see this move pay dividends as the youngster’s exposure to Championship football develops over the coming weeks.