Latest news with #JonWalters
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Midfielder Burger leaves Stoke for Bundesliga side
Midfielder Wouter Burger has left Stoke City to join German top-flight side TSG Hoffenheim for an undisclosed 24-year-old made more than 80 appearances for the Potters and scored five goals across two seasons at the bet365 sporting director Jon Walters said: "We turned down an offer for Wouter on deadline day in January, which he was keen to pursue, as it wasn't right for the club to let the transfer happen at that time."But, he said, after further conversations with Wouter and his agent this summer, Stoke have "decided not to stand in his way". He explained Wouter had "expressed a desire to play in the Bundesliga" and added Hoffenheim's offer "represents a substantial profit" for the Championship side.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Stoke working 'round the clock' on deals
Stoke City manager Mark Robins says the club's recruitment team is "working round the clock" to bring in more signings ahead of the new Championship Potters, who finished a turbulent 2024-25 campaign two points above the relegation zone in 18th place, have brought in three new players so far this winger Sorba Thomas, Ukraine defender Maksym Talovierov and Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama have been added to Robins' squad with the hope that more are to follow soon. Robins said sporting director Jon Walters and owner-chairman John Coates are scouring the transfer market constantly."It's been all hands to the pump and they've been working round the clock to find solutions to the spaces we've still got," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke."It won't be wholesale [changes] because we've got to do things in an incremental way." The Potters boss added all three recruits were "really good, quality signings" who "will do well for us now and in the future". Thomas was the first through the door early last month, signing a three-year contract from Huddersfield."I tried to get him in January but it was impossible to do," Robins said."It would've been good [to have had him then] because it could've bedded him in."He wants to work really hard for the team and is someone who has really good qualities and will be a very good addition."Centre-back Talovierov arrived on a three-year deal from Plymouth and can be "as good as he wants to be" according to Robins."Speaking to him, you get the feeling he's so driven and, at 25, he's a really good age. "His work ethic is impressive and I'm delighted to get him. He stands out as a real leader, he's not the finished article and he knows that and he's got areas to work on and we'll work with him to make sure that happens." Mubama 'a dream to have' Mubama will be at Stoke for the season on loan from Manchester City having joined them on a long-term contract from West 20-year-old broke into the Hammers first-team under then boss David Moyes making 18 appearances - including eight in the Premier League - and scoring one goal."There is a player there that's untried but to have a break in and break out season in the Premier League is really difficult to do, especially when you're at certain clubs that have to get certain results," Robins said."Man City are a massive club and have a lot of history behind them now in terms of winning. He's signed a five-year contract there so he's got plenty of time to try to come through. "He's got raw talent and has a lot of attributes that will suit us - he's a dream to have." Stoke begin their latest attempt to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League against Derby County on 9 August and Robins is targeting a much-improved campaign this term."We've got to hope we can get big, big improvements quickly. For me, the quicker the better, but there's still a lot of work to do," he said."It shouldn't be 'we're going to go right there' but the expectation should be that we're going to improve and they [the fans] will be able to see that."We're trying to sign people who are going to make their mark on our supporters and the demands they place on us as custodians of their club. It's exciting."
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Stoke sign Talovierov and loan Man City's Mubama
Stoke City have signed defender Maksym Talovierov from Plymouth Argyle on a three-year deal and striker Divin Mubama on a season-long loan from Manchester international Talovierov, 25, joins the Potters for an undisclosed fee after a six-month spell at Argyle in which he shone during the FA Cup upset of Liverpool and scored the opening goal against Manchester City in the following 20, arrives off the back of a debut season at Manchester City in which he netted his first senior goal for the club in a 8-0 romp against Salford in the FA and Mubama join Sorba Thomas, who moved from Huddersfield Town last month, as Stoke's three new arrivals so far this summer."I always dreamed of playing in England and the Championship is a tough but special league - and I know how big and ambitious a club this is," Talovierov told Stoke's website., externalAfter Argyle head coach Miron Muslic's departure to Schalke, Talovierov becomes the sixth high-profile player to leave Home Park this summer following Ryan Hardie, Daniel Grimshaw, Adam Randell, Jordan Houghton and Mustaphu Bundu."He plays with his heart as well as his head, and he already has valuable experience of Championship football under his belt as well," Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters Mubama, who joined Manchester City from West Ham last summer, has been given the Potters' number nine shirt for the upcoming season."Stoke City is a massive club, I'm excited to be here and determined to work hard, score goals and do everything I can to help the team," Mubama told the club site., external
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales winger Thomas signs for Stoke
Stoke City have signed Wales international winger Sorba 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 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 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 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 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."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Straight From the Stands: Wanderers fans on recruitment and goalkeeper changes
Relationships are the name of the game, By Liam Hatton IT is very early days, but Steven Schumacher this week spoke positively about his dialogue so far with incoming Sporting Director Fergal Harkin. The gaffer himself knows only too well about how important it is to have a transparent and healthy relationship with those higher up on the recruitment side of things, with his time at Stoke City serving as a reminder. Nothing concrete has ever come out of his departure from The Potters and the circumstances behind it, but what we do know is that last summer Stoke saw a new head of recruitment take over. Prior to that in February 2024, Jon Walters replaced Ricky Martin as Technical Director. So, it would be fair to say that Schumacher's time there saw an influx of change, something he had not really witnessed at Plymouth Argyle. Twelve incoming signings and four loans were made in the summer window for Stoke whilst 19 players left the club, which would automatically classify as a huge upheaval in anyone's books. The year before that saw Stoke make 18 new signings. Steven Schumacher's time at Stoke City saw a lot of changes behind the scenes (Image: PA) The point here is that Schumacher knew he was walking into a tough scenario, but maybe the task was just too big judging by the chopping and changing behind the scenes. From enjoying a settled environment at Plymouth with people he was familiar with to what transpired at Stoke, he knows now how important it is to have the right people alongside him. Which brings me to the appointment - albeit not official yet - of Jimmy Dickinson from Plymouth. Dickinson worked with Schumacher in Devon as Head of Recruitment and will now join Bolton in the same capacity, working alongside Schumacher and under the remit of Harkin. Whilst Schumacher's relationship with Harkin will be key, it definitely helps the manager knowing that he has a familiar face who he has an established rapport with, which has produced a squad that has been promoted in the past. I can't sit here and tell you anything about Dickinson really, but we can just go off his signings at Plymouth, which included Bali Mumba, Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz. Again, Plymouth fans will probably have a different opinion and be thankful he's gone, but the step up to the Championship and Argyle being some of the lower spenders in that league probably didn't help matters. You can identify all of the players you want, but the budget also needs to be there. As for Bolton, the structure is now in place and we are relying on a mini-masterclass from Harkin, Schumacher and co. There are links to players such as Ryan Ledson, Jamie Jellis and goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe, but at the moment, these are all just rumours. The main thing to take from this news is that Schumacher has the personnel in place with his own staff, a Head of Recruitment who he has worked with before and a promising start to his relationship with Harkin. It bodes well, now we need to see if the proof is in the pudding. Teddy Sharman-Lowe is one of the keepers said to interest Bolton this summer (Image: PA) A new number one between the sticks? By Lee Sidebotham OVER the summer, I'll be discussing the strengths and weaknesses in each position within our team and how I think we could improve with the options currently at our disposal and the possibilities within the transfer market. This week I'll be giving my take on the goalkeeping position. Personally, I would have liked to see Nathan Baxter stay. In my estimation, he was one of the best shot-stoppers in the league and the perfect replacement following James Trafford's departure. I believe his injury halfway through last season was the single biggest factor in us not gaining that second automatic promotion spot. However, Luke Southwood has surprised many this season. After impressing throughout the cup competitions, he was picked over Baxter in the league in January and the fight for the number one shirt constantly went back and forth. I guess when we do sign a new keeper, the big question will be does Southwood keep his place in the starting eleven? We've all read the rumours about signing Chelsea youngster Teddy Sharman-Lowe on loan after impressing for Doncaster this season. I've seen a lot of people online say we shouldn't loan in this position, and we should get a full-time replacement on the books. But I personally don't mind this option or signing Sharman-Lowe for a year. He played every single game for a side that won League Two this season and kept thirteen clean sheets. It's hard to argue with that record and not consider taking him on. Chelsea also have another keeper available this Summer. The 22-year-old Lucas Bergstrom is a completely different type of goalie to Southwood. He is a towering 6ft 9ins shot-stopper with one cap for Finland and has experience playing in the Swedish First Division and in the Europa Conference League for the Blues. He also played for Peterborough during the 2022-23 season, who finished just behind us in the Play-Offs. If Chelsea don't keep him on this year, he could be a very good free agent to bring in. Another permanent option could be Freddie Woodman who has recently been released from Preston North End. Steven Schumacher spoke previously about how there is very little Championship or higher league level experience within our squad. Woodman certainly ticks all those boxes. Maybe I'm stretching it a bit with this option, but if the opportunity came, I think we should absolutely take him. Tottenham's Alfie Whiteman is also out of contract at the end of the season. While he's never played a game for the first team, he has been a constant backup in European matches and a handful of Premier League games. Baxter had a similar history let's not forget. Whoever we decide to bring in, it's important we can call upon them when needed. We've all seen in previous years what can happen when we don't have two solid goalkeeping options.
