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Stoke City have completed their second summer signing by bringing in Norwich City defender Ben Gibson.

The 31-year-old former Middlesbrough and Burnley centre-back has signed a three-year deal with the Potters and follows the signing of Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson in May.

He has twice won promotion from the Championship, in 2015-16 with hometown club Boro, where his uncle Steve is the chairman, and again with the Canaries in 2020-21.

Gibson also played in the top flight for Burnley, who he joined from Boro in 2018 as their then £15m record signing.

"Having won promotion from the second tier, Ben is well versed in knowing what it takes to be successful at this level," said Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters.

"Successful teams need leaders, strong characters and experience and Ben gives us all three qualities in abundance. He sets high standards of himself and others, both on the training ground and off the pitch."

Gibson said: "I have played here. The atmosphere is fantastic and the fanbase speaks for itself. I want to be part of a team that brings the good times back to Stoke.

"We have to build a culture and environment where everyone is demanding of each other, where we don’t accept second best from anyone in this football club from top to bottom."

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Stoke City have made their third summer signing by bringing in defender Eric Bocat from Belgian top-flight club Sint-Truiden for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who began his career at Lille, follows the arrival of Norwich City defender Ben Gibson and Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

"He is a versatile, athletic, and exciting player whose attributes can help him thrive in the Championship and beyond," said Stoke sporting director Jon Walters.

“Eric’s ability to adapt to different positions on the field will be a tremendous asset."

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Stoke City have signed striker Sam Gallagher from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old, who joined Rovers from Southampton in 2019, has signed a three-year deal to become Potters boss Steven Schumacher's fourth summer signing - in marked contrast to the summer of 2023, when the club brought in 19 players.

It follows the arrivals of goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and defenders Ben Gibson and Eric Bocat.

“Sam has a wealth of Championship experience," said Stoke sporting director Jon Walters.

"That’s something we wanted to bring into our forward line to complement the players we already have and others we are looking to bring in.

“He is a traditional number nine but has played a lot of his recent football for Blackburn in wide positions. He has shown for a number of years that those around him benefit from playing alongside him.

“There was a lot of interest in Sam from elsewhere, so for him to have chosen us shows that he likes what we are about as a club."

After joining Southampton as a 16-year-old, former England youth international Gallagher had loan spells at Milton Keynes Dons, Blackburn and Birmingham City before a permanent move to East Lancashire in 2019.

“The direction that the club wants to go in is what attracted me,” said Gallagher.

"There is an eagerness to climb the league which aligns with what I want to achieve.

“I feel confident in my abilities, I want to impact the team in a positive way and, most importantly, for the club to be successful.”

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Stoke City have signed Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old forward, who is the son of former Wales international Jason, scored for the Premier League side against Southampton in the FA Cup last season.

He made his debut for Wales this summer in friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia.

But he is not eligible for Stoke's opening Championship game at home to Coventry City on Saturday.

"We are thankful to Liverpool for entrusting us with one of their brightest prospects ahead of other interested clubs," Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters told the club's website.

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Stoke City have parted company with midfielder Daniel Johnson by mutual consent.

The 31-year-old midfielder still had 10 months left to run on the two-year deal he signed when he joined the Potters in July 2023, to be reunited with then Stoke boss Alex Neil, who he played under at Deepdale for four years.

Johnson made 19 Championship starts for Stoke, but had only played in the EFL Cup win at Carlisle United, as well as making a late sub appearance in the league, this season.

“Daniel’s minutes on the field have been limited since the latter part of last season," said Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters.

"We have mutually decided it is in his and the club’s best interests to part ways."

After leaving boyhood club Aston Villa in 2015, Jamaica international Johnson made 336 North End appearances before joining Stoke at the end of his contract.

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Stoke City have signed left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand from Manchester City on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old is reunited with Potters boss Mark Robins, having played 14 games under him at Coventry during a loan spell in 2022-23.

Wilson-Esbrand made his senior debut for Manchester City in a 6-1 League Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers in September 2021 and made two substitute appearances in the Champions League the following season.

"Josh brings all the physical attributes needed to be a real asset at both ends of the pitch," said Stoke sporting director Jon Walters.

"With Championship experience and having previously been part of a successful team under Mark, Josh is well prepared to make a significant impact in a Stoke City shirt."

The former England youth international could make his debut in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at home to Oxford United, now managed by former Stoke boss Gary Rowett.

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Stoke City have signed Ipswich forward Ali Al-Hamadi on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old helped Ipswich win promotion to the top flight last season after joining from AFC Wimbledon midway through the campaign.

In August, he became the first player from Iraq to appear in the Premier League.

Al-Hamadi's arrival at Stoke will help to plug the gap left by Tom Cannon's loan spell being ended early by Leicester, with the striker subsequently joining Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.

Potters sporting director Jon Walters said:, external "Strikers of real pedigree are one of the hardest commodities to secure in any transfer window, so to get Ali over the line is a significant boost for us all.

"We know there has been significant interest from other clubs and are delighted he has opted to join Stoke City.

"Ali's goalscoring record speaks for itself, but it's his relentless hard-working approach that truly epitomises what we stand for as a club."

Al-Hamadi has made 11 substitute appearances in the Premier League this season but is yet to make a league start in the top flight for the Tractor Boys.

His only goal to date this season came against his former club AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.

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Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has agreed a new contract to stay with Stoke until the summer of 2028.

The 20-year-old has been on loan at hometown club Walsall this season, featuring in all but one of the Saddlers' League Two fixtures.

He had previous loan stints with AFC Fylde, Solihull Moors and Forest Green Rovers and has also won six England caps at Under-20 level.

"I love being a Stoke City player and my family love me being a part of the club," said Simkin. "My aim is to be Stoke City's number one in the future.

"I have played consistently this season at Walsall which has given me consistency in my game. Every game I play on loan gives me more experience and takes me closer to that goal.

"In the immediate future, I am focused on playing well and helping Walsall to hopefully achieve promotion."

Simkin has made one Championship appearance to date for the Potters, against Sheffield Wednesday in December 2023.

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Stoke City's long-serving Northern Ireland midfielder Jordan Thompson is leaving the Championship club after five-and-a-half seasons.

The 28-year-old joined Stoke in January 2020 from Blackpool and made 178 appearances, including 146 in the Championship.

He played 23 times in the league this season but missed the Potters' last three games through injury as the club secured survival on the final day following a relegation-threatened campaign.

Stoke have also released USA international Lynden Gooch and defenders Michael Rose and Enda Stevens.



Baker, who has been with Stoke since January 2022, spent the first half of this season on loan with Blackburn before returning to the Potteries at the start of the year.

Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said, external Baker, "has been an integral part of our side since he returned to the club in January" and had "played some of his best football for Stoke City" under boss Mark Robins, who recalled the player when he took over.

On the departing Thompson, Walters said the club were grateful to someone "who, beyond question, gave 100% on each of the 178 times he donned a Stoke City shirt" and called his contribution to the side "significant and valued".

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Stoke City have signed Wales international winger Sorba Thomas.

The 26-year-old, who has 17 caps for his country, spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Nantes from Huddersfield Town, a deal which included an option to buy.

His stay in France was marred by an instance of racist abuse on social media, after he had been replaced despite only going on as a substitute in the 80th minute of a match against RC Lens in November.

Thomas made 25 appearances for Nantes scoring one goal, against St Etienne, as he helped Les Canaris to a 13th-place finish. He had previously spent five seasons at the John Smith's Stadium.

The West Ham United academy product is currently with the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifying games but has agreed a three-year contract at the bet365 Stadium.

Stoke sporting director Jon Walters told the club website, external: "To get the deal done early in the window is a real positive. It means he's in the building, can settle quickly and will begin pre-season with us from day one.

"He's got a strong physical profile, works tirelessly out of possession and technically he brings real quality, especially with his delivery into the box, which is a standout part of his game.

"[Assistant manager] James Rowberry has worked with him closely in the Wales set-up, so we know exactly what he'll bring on and off the pitch."