Tottenham lose James Maddison replacement as Championship loan transfer for 21-year-old confirmed

Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Alfie Devine has signed for Preston North End on loan for the 2025-26 campaign after penning a new long-term contract in North London.

The 21-year-old was left out of Tottenham's pre-season tour of Asia in order to explore a move elsewhere, although there was the possibility that plans could have changed in the wake of James Maddison's injury.

The 28-year-old is likely to miss most if not all of the 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL against Newcastle United in South Korea, while Dejan Kulusevski is still out with a knee injury of his own.

Devine would have been a like-for-like replacement for Maddison in the most advanced midfield role, but in spite of the latter's lengthy absence, Spurs have decided that a loan exit is still best for the former's development.

The 2004-born prospect will now spend the 2025-26 campaign at Deepdale, marking his second stint in the Championship after a brief period with Plymouth Argyle in the second half of the 2023-24 season.

Tottenham's Devine "buzzing" as Preston loan transfer confirmed

"I’m buzzing," Devine told pnefc.net. "When this opportunity came about, I was excited when I first heard about it. I’m happy to be here and happy to get it done.

"I can’t wait to get going tomorrow. I like to make people excited. I like to get on the ball. I like to always be involved in it and get people off their seats.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom added: "Alfie’s a talented player who can play in a number of positions. He can play as an attacking midfielder, he can play deep and he’s played box-to-box, so he’s got that flexibility which is great for us.

“I really liked his loan move in Belgium last year where he showed really good energy and appetite off the ball, which is what we demand. He showed his technique and quality in the final third to get goals and help assist others as well."

Devine's move to Preston marks his fourth separate loan spell away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having also represented Port Vale and most recently Belgian outfit KVC Westerlo, scoring six goals in 32 games for the latter last season.

The 21-year-old memorably netted on his Tottenham debut against Marine in the 2020-21 FA Cup, but he has made just one more senior appearance for the Lilywhites since and is also still waiting for his first minutes in the Premier League.

How can Spurs replace Maddison after ACL injury?

While Kulusevski should be back within a few weeks to step in for Maddison, asking Devine to deputise for both men when he has not even made his Premier League debut would have been an extremely tall order.

Nevertheless, the youngster's loan move deprives Spurs of a possible alternative to Maddison, but head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed that the Europa League winners are in the market for a new creative option.

Sports Mole understands that an enquiry has been submitted for Manchester City's Jack Grealish, whose teammate James McAtee could also be a viable option, but the former is on Everton's radar too.

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze and Liverpool's Harvey Elliott may also be on the move this summer, although Tottenham are not believed to have a serious interest in either at this juncture.

Devine is the 11th player to leave Tottenham on loan this summer and the second in the space of two hours after Yang Min-hyeok was announced as a Portsmouth player earlier on Friday.