Stoke City Sign Justin Devenny from Crystal Palace

Stoke City have landed midfielder Justin Devenny from Crystal Palace on a four-year deal, as the Championship club continues its aggressive summer rebuild.

The fee remains undisclosed, but the intent is crystal clear. At 22, Devenny arrives with a CV that stretches well beyond his years. He spent three seasons at Selhurst Park, making 60 appearances and scoring four goals, and was part of Palace squads that lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield and Uefa Conference League.

For Stoke, he is signing number ten of a busy window. For Devenny, it is a calculated step towards a shared target.

"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," he told the club’s website. "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."

Those words will land well in the stands at the bet365 Stadium, where talk of a Premier League return has lingered ever since relegation.

Inside the building, there is little attempt to play down that ambition. Sporting director Jon Walters framed Devenny as a key piece in a deeper, more competitive squad.

Walters praised the Northern Ireland international’s "tenacious attitude" and pointed to the value of his top-flight and European experience. For a side trying to muscle its way out of one of the most unforgiving divisions in football, that edge matters.

"Devenny gives us versatility and further competition within the squad, which was important to us as we looked to strengthen over the summer," Walters said. "With the 10 new signings we have made over the window, we feel we have added both quality and depth across the squad.

"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."

The message is blunt enough. The recruitment is done. The talking is done. Now Stoke must prove that this flurry of business can carry them back towards the level Devenny has been signed to chase.