Northern Ireland have another Championship name on the move. Justin Devenny has left Crystal Palace for Stoke City on a four-year deal, confirmed after a late deadline-day arrival that only landed publicly on Wednesday morning.
The 22-year-old midfielder joins for an undisclosed fee and becomes Stoke’s tenth summer signing. He is also their third deadline-day recruit, following American pair Jack McGlynn and Luca Bombino.
Devenny is a Northern Ireland international. At Palace he made 60 appearances and scored four goals, and he featured in the club’s FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League-winning campaigns. Stoke have been in the Championship since 2018 and are still chasing a return to the Premier League.
That ambition is exactly why he said yes.
“A big part of the reason for me joining is that the ambitions of the club match mine, and that’s to ultimately get back into the Premier League,” Devenny said. “That’s the goal, and it’s what we want and it’s what the fans want as well. With the size of the club, that’s what we need to aim to be.”
Stoke sporting director Jon Walters pointed to versatility and competition in midfield.
“Devenny gives us versatility and further competition within the squad,” Walters said. “With the 10 new signings we have made over the window, we feel we have added both quality and depth. We believe we now have a group capable of having a successful season, but we know the relentless hard work must continue throughout the club if we are going to achieve what we want to.”
For Northern Ireland watchers, it is another senior player shifting clubs in England rather than standing still. Championship minutes, a four-year contract, and a club that still talks about the Premier League. Next step is simple: get into Mark Robins’ plans and stay in Michael O’Neill’s conversation by playing.
Fee remains undisclosed. Transfer reported as subject to the usual league approvals.
Related: Premier League deadline day wrap.
Read more: Linfield at Windsor Park: Tickets, Match Days and Getting There
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