Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
COMO, ITALY - JULY 31: Justin Devenny of Crystal Palace FC in action during the Como Cup 2026 match between Crystal Palace Football Club and Al-Ula SC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 31, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
You genuinely couldn’t make this up.
Justin Devenny has scored twice on his Stoke City debut today, putting in the perfect response after completing his move away from Crystal Palace.
And here is the part that will infuriate Celtic supporters.
I’ve heard that Devenny was absolutely desperate to sign for Celtic just days ago.
So desperate, in fact, that before putting pen to paper on his Stoke contract, he reportedly asked his agent to leave the room and phone Celtic one final time to see if there was any chance of resurrecting the move.
Celtic could reportedly have had him for around £5 million.
Five million pounds.
For a 22-year-old Scottish-born midfielder who can play multiple positions, has Premier League experience and genuinely wanted to play for Celtic.
Now he has scored twice on his Stoke debut.
Of course, two goals on a debut doesn’t suddenly make Devenny a world-beater.
But that isn’t really the point.
The point is that the player wanted Celtic.
Celtic had the opportunity.
The fee was manageable.
And the player was apparently doing everything he could to make the move happen.
Meanwhile, we constantly hear that Celtic struggle to attract good Scottish players.
Do we?
Or are we simply not aggressive enough when the opportunity is sitting right in front of us?
£5m. A player desperate to come. Two goals on his debut.
That one is going to sting.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Devenny scored twice on his Stoke City debut after moving from Crystal Palace.
- Devenny was desperate to sign for Celtic, even asking his agent to contact them before finalising his Stoke deal.
- Celtic could have acquired Devenny for around £5 million, a manageable fee for a promising player.
- The situation raises questions about Celtic’s ability to attract good Scottish players and their aggressiveness in the transfer market.
- Devenny’s debut goals could sting for Celtic supporters, highlighting a missed opportunity.
Geneitis devenny sarrachi iheanacho suger. Players celtic have allowed to go elsewhere for cheaper or free options. Ive a bad feeling that karma is going to hit us this season.
An absolute scandal, no words can defend this totally inept board!🙄
Similar story with a certain Uruguayan left back. What goes on at Sellic? 🤬