Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine set to join Preston North End on a permanent basis | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine is on the verge of completing a permanent move to Preston North End, with the 21-year-old undergoing a medical in Lancashire ahead of a club-record transfer.

The Englishman is poised to end his spell in North London and reunite with the Championship side, where he enjoyed a highly successful loan during the 2025–26 campaign.

Spurs initially agreed a structured buy option with Preston, worth £4.5 million, potentially rising to £6 million with performance-related add-ons.

Although that clause briefly lapsed at the start of July due to negotiations over payment instalments, Preston made a concerted effort to ensure the highly rated playmaker felt wanted, moving decisively ahead of strong competition.

Scottish champions Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and several promotion-chasing Championship clubs had all expressed interest in hijacking the transfer.

Devine was a standout performer at Deepdale last season, recording eight goals and seven assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. He quickly became a fan favourite and secured Preston’s Young Player of the Year award.

For Tottenham, the decision to sanction a permanent exit reflects the sweeping squad changes under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Despite Devine’s immense promise—and his historic achievement as Spurs’ youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 against Marine in 2021—a crowded midfield restricted his pathway to first-team football.

With only 12 months left on his contract, the move allows Tottenham to secure a pure profit on an academy graduate.

Devine’s permanent move represents an ideal outcome for all parties. Preston secure a marquee talent to bolster their midfield as they look to build on last season’s 14th-place finish, while the player gains regular, high-level minutes crucial for his development.