From the end of last season into the summer, Alfie Devine had made up his mind. Preston were the club he wanted. The move is now done, with Devine joining from Tottenham on a five-year contract, but the delay is a big part of the story. So is the scale of the deal, with Preston saying the undisclosed fee was almost three times what they paid for Callum Lang in February.

The wait behind Preston's deal

The timeline matters here because Devine himself framed it that way. He told BBC Sport: "From the end of last season going into the summer, it was always a priority in terms of where I wanted to be. It took its time, but I'm delighted it's gone through."

That lines up with what Preston were buying. Devine had already spent last season there on loan and scored eight goals in 45 league appearances. For a club making a club-record signing, that is a far safer bet than paying for potential alone. They had already seen him over a full campaign and knew exactly how he fitted.

He also made it clear the relationship with the club was not a short-term one. "From the first minute I came here until my last minute of last season, I absolutely loved it," Devine said.

There is still a small argument around how the move got to this point. Reports said Preston's exclusive option to sign him expired on July 1, while the confirmed picture is simpler: Preston have signed him on a five-year contract. The option debate is relevant because it helps explain why the deal felt open for longer than expected, but it does not change the finished outcome.

Celtic's interest did not come from nowhere

Even with Celtic missing out, their role in this story was not just background noise. Martin O'Neill went to Deepdale in April to watch Devine in person, when the midfielder supplied an assist in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers.

O'Neill explained the trip in plain terms when he told Daily Record: "I went because we should still be looking at players. Also, I know Preston director Peter Ridsdale from way back when Leeds tried to get me."

That alone suggests Celtic's interest was active rather than casual. O'Neill also said: "Someone I think could be good, the new manager might feel differently. But at least it's someone you can put on the board and say, 'We looked at them'." Add that to reports that Celtic had been watching Devine extensively in recent months, and it is fair to say Preston were not the only club pushing.

Pete O'Rourke's view was similar, even if it came from outside either club. He told teamtalk.com: "He ticks a lot of boxes for Celtic. He's still only 21, player with huge potential for development as well. And it's an area of the team that Celtic are definitely going to have to add to in the summer."

Devine's profile made this a deal worth chasing

Preston's confidence is easier to understand when you step back from the transfer noise. Devine was already productive for them over 45 league games, and his broader reputation has been strong for years. He became Tottenham's youngest-ever goalscorer when he scored against Marine in January 2021 at 16 years and 163 days.

That does not guarantee anything at Championship level, but it does explain why clubs kept tracking him and why Preston were willing to stretch. The fee remains undisclosed, yet the comparison to Callum Lang tells you enough about how highly they rate this signing.

For Preston, this is not really a gamble on a player they hope might fit. It is a permanent move for someone they already know can handle the club, the league and the workload. For Celtic, the interest shows they saw the same upside. The deal is complete now, and Devine will start the season at Preston on a five-year contract.

FAQ

Why did Alfie Devine's move to Preston take so long?

Devine said Preston had been his priority from the end of last season going into the summer, but the move still took time to go through. There was also outside interest, with Celtic watching him closely, and reports around Preston's option to sign him were not fully aligned.

How good was Alfie Devine for Preston before his permanent transfer?

Devine scored eight goals in 45 league appearances on loan for Preston last season. That gave the club a long look at him before committing to a permanent deal, and it is the clearest football reason behind the five-year contract.

Were Celtic interested in signing Alfie Devine?

Yes. Martin O'Neill went to Deepdale in April to watch Devine, who produced an assist in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers, and Celtic had been tracking him extensively in recent months. Even with Preston completing the deal, their interest was clearly real.

Did Preston still have an active option to buy Alfie Devine?

Reports differ on that point. Daily Record said Preston's exclusive option expired on July 1, while the confirmed position is simply that Preston signed Devine on a five-year contract. The argument over the option does not change the completed transfer.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →