ALFIE DEVINE

Full Name: Alfie Sean Devine

Born: 01 August 2004

Came from: Tottenham Hotspur   Went to: Tottenham Hotspur

First game: 20 January 2024   Last game: 04 May 2024

Appearances: 15 (9/6)   Goals: 0

An attacking midfielder capable of operating in a deeper role, Devine began his career in Liverpool's academy before being released at the age of 11. Four months later, he joined Wigan Athletic and made his under-23 debut at just 15 years old. He was part of the side that defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the 2019-20 FA Youth Cup, coming on as a late substitute. Having impressed against Spurs, he joined the north London club from Wigan's Academy for a fee of around £300,000 in July 2020 while the Latics were in administration.

Devine made his senior debut for Tottenham in January 2021 during a televised FA Cup third-round tie against non-league Marine. Introduced at the start of the second half, he marked his debut with a goal in a 5-0 victory. At 16 years and 163 days old, he became Tottenham's youngest-ever first-team player and, consequently, the club's youngest goalscorer.

After making two first-team appearances and scoring once during August 2023, Devine joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the 2023-24 season. He made 26 appearances and scored three goals, sealing his place in Vale folklore in October 2023 when his winning goal at Mansfield Town sent the Valiants into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup for the first time in the club's history.

Devine has represented England at under-16, under-19 and under-20 levels, regularly playing above his age group. He was part of the England under-19 squad that won the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the under-20 side that lifted the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. On both occasions, he played under the management of future Argyle head coach Ian Foster.

It therefore came as little surprise that during the January 2024 transfer window, Tottenham recalled Devine from Port Vale before immediately loaning him to Argyle, reuniting him with Foster. He became the third signing of the new head coach's tenure at Home Park.

Devine played his part during a difficult period for the club. Foster's tenure unravelled quickly, and Devine was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in a home defeat to Bristol City in April 2024. The match proved to be the final game of Foster's brief spell in charge. Devine made nine starts and a further six substitute appearances before returning to his parent club at the end of the season. Interim manager Neil Dewsnip later suggested that Argyle would look to bring him back, but in September 2024 he instead joined Belgian Pro League side Westerlo on loan for the 2024-25 campaign.

He scored six goals in 32 appearances for the Belgian club before returning to Tottenham, where he signed a new contract. In August 2025, Devine was loaned to Championship side Preston North End for the season. He went on to score eight goals in 48 appearances and was named the club's Young Player of the Year for 2025-26 before returning to Tottenham at the end of the campaign.

In July 2026, Devine returned to Deepdale on a permanent basis, signing a five-year contract after Preston paid a club-record fee, reportedly in the region of £6 million.