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Stoke City swoop for midfield stalwart Steve Sidwell

| 09.06.2014
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Stoke City have announced the acquisition of central midfielder Steve Sidwell on a free transfer, after the player was released from Fulham following their relegation from the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Potters who are 33/1 to win the Capital One Cup next season, and will offer a scoring presence in the Stoke side, having topped the charts at Craven Cottage last season with seven goals.

Chief Executive Tony Scholes was understandably pleased to have captured the signing: “Steve was much in demand and we are delighted to have won the race to secure his signature.

“Mark [Hughes] signed him for Fulham and from talking to Steve I know how much he’s looking forward to working with him again.

“Like Phil Bardsley, Steve brings great experience to our squad and I’m sure he will prove to be an excellent addition to our squad,” added Scholes.

Sidwell started his career at Arsenal, and won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001, before earning a move to Reading, where he won promotion to the Premier League in 2006.

Having also played for Chelsea and Aston Villa, the player has racked up 56 goals in 388 career appearances, and becomes Stoke’s second summer signing after full back Bardsley joined from Sunderland.

Potters boss Hughes is also reportedly interested in bringing in 32-year-old centre back Brede Hangeland, who has also been released from the Cottagers, though he looks more likely to stay in west London with QPR circling.

A more realistic third signing would be former Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf, who is out of contract at Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga. Under Hughes, Stoke achieved the club’s highest Premier League finish and points tally [50 and ninth] last term.

Having successfully added Sidwell to the steadily growing ranks at the Britannia, Hughes will be keen to bed the player in quickly, knowing that his experience can be vital to the teams’ progression.

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Author

Matt Haynes

A long-suffering Leeds fan, Matt studied Sports Journalism at university, and has a plethora of multi-industry experience. Having worked on behalf of multiple hedge funds and top-tier investment banks in executive search, he has also had a stint with the BBC and the Press Association. Outside of work, he pursues entrepreneurial activities and likes to keep fit.
Although he has interviewed current England manager Roy Hodgson as well as Rafa Benitez and a number of other names, he is honoured to have spent time in the company of Gordon Banks. Matt enjoys cultivating long-lasting professional and personal relationships, is solution orientated, and supports Coral’s sports content provision.