Football
KweséESPN Reporter 6y

Etebo joins Stoke City on five-year deal

Nigeria international midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo on Monday became the first summer signing of Championship side Stoke City, signing a five-year contract.

The Potters paid a fee of €7.2 million to Portuguese club Feirense for the services of the 22-year-old box-to-box midfielder, who is set to link up with his teammates after the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Tipped for a big summer transfer, his move to Stoke, recently relegated from the Premier League, does appear to have taken everyone by surprise, a decision which Chief Executive Tony Scholes acknowledged.

"I'm particularly pleased that he took the time to look beyond our current league status and understand who we are as a club before choosing us ahead of current Premier League and Bundesliga club," Scholes is quoted as saying by the official Stoke City website.

Similarly, manager Gary Rowett expressed his delight at the acquisition of a player with the potential to blossom at the bet365 Stadium.

"We're really excited to have got the deal over the line for Etebo. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a Stoke City shirt as I'm sure our supporters are too," Rowett noted.

It has been a great two-and-a-half years for a player who shot to prominence when he won the 2014/15 Glo Wonder-goal award for his strike against Bayelsa United whilst on the books of Warri Wolves, and was named the 2015 CAF Most Promising Talent.

Since making move to Feirense in January 2016, he has gone on to appear 12 times for the Super Eagles, and will hope to create a lasting legacy as a Potter, as he becomes the fourth Nigeria international to represent Stoke City after Seyi Olofinjana, Osaze Odemwingie and Victor Moses.

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