Argyle Sign Alfie Devine on Loan
Argyle have signed midfielder Alfie Devine on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Highly-rated 19-year-old Alfie has spent the first portion of the season with Port Vale, for whom he has played 26 games, starting 20, and has scored three goals.
Devine shares things in common with the other two loan signings that Argyle have made during this transfer window. Like Ashley Phillips, who signed for Argyle last week, Devine is well thought of at Tottenham, and has played age-group football for England.
Alfie played in the Under-20 World Cup in the summer, in Argentina, alongside Darko Gyabi, recruited to Home Park on loan from Leeds United last week. Not so coincidentally, the England manager for that tournament was current Argyle head coach Ian Foster, who was also in charge when Alfie played in the England Under-19 squad that won the 2022 European Championship.
Devine was in the Liverpool academy until the age of 11, then developed further at Wigan, for whom he played as the Latics reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-final.
He was signed, just shy of his 16th birthday, by Tottenham, for whom he signed professional terms in August 2021, when he turned 17.
Before that, though, Alfie made a bit of Spurs history when coming on as a half-time substitute in the Emirates FA Cup away to Marine, in January 2021. He became not only Tottenham’s youngest-ever player when taking the field, he scored Spurs’ fifth goal, making him their youngest goalscorer, too.
On his newest acquisition, Foster said: “Alfie is a player I’m really familiar with.
“I've known Alfie since his Wigan days, when I was working for the FA. We had a lot of players coming through the pathway at Wigan. When selecting Alfie for England teams, he played a year up, which shows you the level of confidence I have in him, in terms of his ability and his character.
“Bringing him here was a no-brainer in terms of knowing what I'm getting from the person and the player. I know how talented he is, I know how hard working he is, and it gives me a little bit of a head start because he knows the role and he knows exactly what I'll be asking him to do. Regardless of the shape, he understands the principles of play.
“He's a really versatile attacking midfield player. He can play in advanced midfield roles, and he can also play in that deeper role as well.
“He can handle the ball in tight areas under pressure, and he is an attacking threat. He's someone that can cover a lot of positions for us, which is a great thing to have.”
Argyle Director of Football Neil Dewsnip added: “Alfie follows Ashley Phillips in from Tottenham Hotspur, and it shows what Spurs think of us that they have entrusted us with two of their brightest young prospects.
“Alfie is well-known to Ian, as someone who has selected him for England age groups, and he is known to our recruitment department, who have identified Alfie as a leading player in Sky Bet League One this season with Port Vale.
“He fits the profile of a young, talented player who we can assist in developing, and who will offer us great energy, ability and creativity in our midfield.”
Alfie will wear squad number 16. The deal is subject to EFL approval.
Alfie's home shirt is sponsored by Ocean City Therapy and his away shirt by Plymouth Fire Protection.
