Former Liverpool FC fullback Glen Johnson became Stoke City manager Mark Hughes’s sixth signing of the close season on Sunday joining on a free transfer.
The 30-year-old — capped 54 times and who played in both Euro 2012 and last year’s World Cup finals — was a free agent after being released by Liverpool at the end of last season ending a six year spell there.
Johnson has signed a two-year deal with the option for a third year, and despite certain formalities surrounding the deal yet to be cleared up he has flown out to join Stoke in Singapore where they are taking part in a tournament.
“He (Johnson) will be a fantastic addition. He’s a talented defender who also chips in with goals,” said Hughes.
Johnson, who cost Liverpool A?17.5 million ($19.5m) from Portsmouth in 2009, joins Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, veteran Irish goalkeeper Shay Given, Spanish striker Joselu, German centreback Philipp Wollscheid and Danish goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard as the new arrivals at Stoke.
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However, Hughes is resigned to losing Bosnian international goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who is set to move to Premier League champions Chelsea for A?8million.
“I haven’t had an update but my understanding is that he’s likely to travel to Chelsea and that will be concluded,” Hughes told Sky Sports.
“Having worked with Asmir, he will back his ability and he would think he will challenge and get game time, or he wouldn’t have gone there.
“He’s a confident and very accomplished goalkeeper so he’ll push whoever’s the number one very, very hard.”
By AFP
