Preston North End’s captain Ben Whiteman has revealed how he acted as a sounding board for Alfie Devine during the 21-year-old’s decision to return to Deepdale on a permanent basis this summer.
Whiteman, speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire this week, said he kept in touch with Devine throughout the off-season and offered guidance as the young forward weighed up interest from Celtic, Burnley and Wolves. Devine completed his move from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record fee of around £6 million on July 12, 2026, after an impressive loan spell at Deepdale last season.
How Whiteman helped Devine choose Preston
“Really pleased that he signed,” Whiteman said. “I sort of kept in contact with Alfie all through the summer, as a bit of a soundboard for him really because I have been in that situation, not to the extent financially that Alfie was.
“But when you have a good season, there are a few clubs after you and you need that little bit of guidance. That’s what I tried to reiterate all through the summer to Alfie, especially coming back here. He’s loved here by the players, fans, the staff and, for him, it was a no-brainer really.
“I know he had interest elsewhere but once the finer details were sorted, there was only one place he wanted to come and it was here.”
Captain’s role beyond the pitch
Whiteman also reflected on his broader responsibilities as skipper, insisting the role extends far beyond matchdays. “It’s conversations that stay private over the summer, over the season,” he said. “You have got to make hard decisions that will benefit the group. It’s not just what you see on a Saturday. It’s a full-time role, it’s the summer and I’ve had my time off but I’ve been wanting to help the football club in bringing Alfie in and I think I’ve done that as well.”
Ownership talk and the expanded play-offs
Whiteman was asked about speculation surrounding a potential takeover of Preston North End. US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan has been linked with a move for the club since January, attending a home game last season and interacting with North End-related posts online.
“Listen, we’re not robots, you see it externally,” Whiteman said. “Definitely on social media now, there’s an urge to want, want, want but that’s a question well above my pay grade. I’m the captain of Preston North End, my job is on the pitch and also off it, but I won’t be drawn into speculation about the ownership of the football club.”
On the Championship’s expanded play-off places - now six teams from third to eighth - Whiteman believes Preston can be among them. “I think, if you go into the season going to the play-offs, you have got to aim high and we’re not daft,” he said. “We need a few new faces to get us over the line but the ambition has got to be that. You want to play at the highest level that you can and a lot of us are getting a bit older now and you want to get to the Premier League, and want to get there as soon as possible.”
Pre-season camp in Spain
Preston have spent the week at a training camp in Spain as preparations build for the 2026/27 season. Whiteman called the camp “a massive part of pre-season” and said it has helped the squad bond ahead of the new campaign.
League standing (final 2025 table - new season not yet under way): 14th in Championship, 60 pts, 15W-15D-16L from 46 games, recent form LWLLW. Last result: Preston 1-3 Southampton (2026-05-02).
