[themaclad]

New Stoke City boss Alex Neil has made his first signing - Chelsea defender Dujon Sterling on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old spent last season in the second tier with Blackpool, where he made 24 league appearances.

Neil told the Stoke City club website: "The signing of Dujon is an exciting one for us. We had to fight off stiff competition to get him.

"He's a talented young player who plays as a right wing-back, which is an area where we are short on numbers."

Neil has allowed two places to go out on loan, winger Liam McCarron to League One neighbours Port Vale and full-back Tom Edwards to another League One side Barnsley.

[themaclad]

Stoke have signed Kosovo midfielder Bersant Celina on loan from French side Dijon until the end of the season.

Celina, who previously had spells at Manchester City, Ipswich Town and Swansea, spent the first half of this season on loan at Kasimpasa in Turkey.

The 26-year-old is Stoke's second signing of the transfer window after goalkeeper Matija Sarkic joined on loan from Wolves this week.

"[Celina] knows the Championship well," said Stoke boss Alex Neil.

"It's apparent that he is really keen to make his mark again in English football."

Celina started his professional career with Manchester City but made only four appearances for the Premier League club before loan spells at Dutch side Twente and Ipswich, while the Tractor Boys were in the Championship.

He joined Swansea for around £3m in 2018 and spent two seasons there before joining Ligue 1 side Dijon for a similar fee.

Celina, who has 33 caps for Kosovo, spent last season back on loan with Ipswich in League One, scoring six goals in 35 appearances across all competitions.

Stoke are currently 18th in the Championship after 28 games, seven points above the relegation zone.

[themaclad]

Wolves defender Ki-Jana Hoever has signed for Stoke City on loan for the rest of the season.

Hoever, 21, is the Championship side's third January loan signing following the arrival of Wolves keeper Matija Sarkic and Bersant Celina from Dijon.

The Dutch right-back joined Wolves from Liverpool in September 2020.

Having made 25 appearances in his first two seasons with Wolves, Hoever went on a full season loan to PSV Eindhoven but it was cut short this week.

Hoever made 10 appearances - but only began four games - as he struggled to secure a regular place in Ruud van Nistelrooy's side.

He is still contracted to Wolves until 2025.

Hoever was part of the deal that took Diogo Jota to Anfield, being priced at £9m, with a possible further £4.5m in add-ons.

Alex Neil's Stoke are 18th in the Championship table, seven points clear of trouble.

[St Charles Owl]

Championship side Stoke City have signed centre-back Aden Flint on a one-year contract.

Flint, 32, will leave Cardiff at the end of June, after three years, after being released at the end of his deal.

The defender made 93 appearances and scored 12 goals in his time in the Welsh capital.

Flint began his English Football League career with Swindon, and also spent five years with Bristol City before moving to Middlesbrough.

"I'm delighted to get it over the line, it's been in the pipeline for a few weeks now," Flint said.

"I obviously spoke to the gaffer while I was holiday, and I'm just delighted to be able to get it done."

Flint has now moved on to us on a loan to the end of the season. Previously with us a couple of seasons ago but got injured so went back. Should be a good replacement for McGuiness who went back to Cardiff.

[themaclad]

Stoke City have signed Bournemouth midfielder Ben Pearson and Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe on loan until the end of the season.

Pearson, 28, has featured a total of 55 times since joining the Cherries from Preston North End in January 2021.

However, he has only started three Premier League games this season.

Tuanzebe, 25, has not made a competitive appearance in 2022-23 after spells on loan at Aston Villa and Italian club Napoli last season.

He has made 36 senior appearances for the Red Devils since making his senior debut in an FA Cup win over Wigan in January 2017.

Tuanzebe moves to the Championship club after Harry Souttar left the Potters to join Leicester City in an initial £15m deal.