Stoke secure £12m Shaqiri signature

Stoke City’s patience in their pursuit of Xherdan Shaqiri has paid off with the Switzerland international signing in a £12million deal.

Shaqiri has signed a five-year deal at the Britannia Stadium, and could make his debut away to Tottenham on Saturday.

The transfer of Shaqiri from Inter to the Britannia Stadium was confirmed on Tuesday, with talks between the winger and Stoke having resumed over the weekend.

In July, Stoke manager Mark Hughes had claimed he “did not sense” that Shaqiri was enthusiastic about moving to the Premier League outfit, but the 23-year-old has seemingly had a change of heart.

But, after Shaqiri’s signature was secure, Hughes told Stoke’s official website: “He’s a dynamic and explosive player who will bring something different to the group and at the age of 23 he still has a great deal of potential. 

“In the chats I’ve had with him it’s obvious that he’s excited about playing in the Premier League and showing what he’s capable of.”

Shaqiri joined Inter from Bayern Munich in last season’s January transfer window but failed to settle in Milan, scoring only once in 15 Serie A appearances – eight of which were starts.

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes added: “It’s no secret that we have been pursuing Xherdan for some time now and we are delighted to have finally secured his signature. 

“He’s an exciting young player who is really looking forward to playing in the Premier League having played at the very highest level in Germany with Bayern Munich and in Italy with Inter. 

“Xherdan will be a fantastic addition to our squad and adds to the attacking options at the manager’s disposal.”