Former Valiants: loanee secures club record move

Former Port Vale loanee Alfie Devine has secured a permanent summer move away from Tottenham Hotspur.

Preston North End have confirmed that they have signed Devine for a club-record fee on a five-year contract. The fee is undisclosed but the Championship club have said it is “almost three times” the fee they paid for Portsmouth forward Callum Lang in February, which was reported to be around £2m.

Devine, 21, scored eight goals in 45 league appearances on loan with the Lilywhites last season. He was also named the club’s young player of the year.

The midfielder had a highly successful spell with the Valiants during the 2023-24 season. Devine, along with fellow loanee Oliver Arblaster was a key figure in midfield. The Spurs youngster scored three times in 23 games before he was recalled by his parent club in January and sent on loan to Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

On leaving the Valiants Devine told the inhouse PVTV team that he wanted to give the Vale supporters “a massive thank you. From my first game to the Reading game at the weekend, the support has been really good. I’ve loved every minute of it. I felt welcome on the pitch, I feel great, I’ve loved it.”