Stoke City were active on transfer deadline day, with a late move for Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny headlining a summer of significant change at the bet365 Stadium. The Potters also secured their first Championship win of the season on Tuesday night, beating Norwich City 1-0 thanks to Ethan Galbraith's deflected strike.

Crystal Palace's Justin Devenny underwent a medical ahead of a proposed move to Stoke City. The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international, who can play centrally or on the left, was linked with a permanent transfer for a fee believed to be around £5 million. Sky Sports reported the figure, while John Percy of The Telegraph confirmed the medical was taking place.

The club also confirmed the signing of 20-year-old left-back Luca Bombino from San Diego FC, who was named on the bench for the Norwich match. At the same time, winger Sorba Thomas was reported to be having a medical at Hull City, edging towards a Premier League exit just over a year after his arrival from Huddersfield Town. The Potters' summer business took their total incomings to ten players.

The Sentinel's analysis indicates the club's summer transfer strategy was fundamentally shaped by the Championship's shift to new financial regulations. Chairman John Coates had been openly critical of the old Profit and Sustainability rules, calling them "a terrible set of rules" that limited ambition and investment, particularly for clubs like Stoke with a high cost base and no parachute payments.

Coates stated the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules, approved by a vote of Championship clubs in mid-May, loosened financial shackles over the subsequent three-and-a-half months. This allowed for more serious investment in both transfer fees and wages. The recruitment team, led by Jon Walters, pursued a different profile of target, focusing on players like Ben Johnson, Ethan Galbraith, and George Hirst who have experience in the division.

Tuesday's 1-0 victory against Norwich City provided a vital three points for Mark Robins's side, who had started the season with three consecutive league defeats. The win was secured by Ethan Galbraith's 67th-minute shot which took a decisive deflection off Jack Stacey. The goal came from a turnover forced high up the pitch.

The performance saw Stoke defend resolutely in the latter stages, with Norwich's Kenny McLean seeing two late free-kicks blocked by the wall. The result lifts Stoke to 22nd in the Championship table with three points from four games, though they remain seven points behind early leaders Swansea City. The team's defensive effort was notable, having conceded nine goals in their opening four matches.

The summer's work addressed two stated priorities: overhauling the midfield following the departures of Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi, and rebuilding the medical and fitness department. New signings like Djibril Soumare and Galbraith are now key figures in the engine room.

However, the squad faces immediate challenges with a lengthy injury list. Currently sidelined players include Aaron Cresswell, Ato Ampah, Ben Gibson, Junior Tchamadeu, Lamine Cissé, and recent signing Svante Ingelsson. The full extent of the available squad can be seen on our injuries page. The team's next test is a home fixture against high-flying Charlton Athletic, who sit third in the table, on Saturday, September 5th. Check the fixtures page for all upcoming match details.