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Former Spanish youth international Moha El Ouriachi became the third player in recent years to sign for English Premier League side Stoke from Spanish and European champions Barcelona on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old winger — who has also played for Morocco at Under-23 level — joins Bojan and Marc Muniesa at the club managed by Mark Hughes, who spent two years of his stellar playing career at Barcelona from 1986-88.
He has flown out to link up with his new team-mates for a pre-season tournament in Singapore.
Stoke, who have been extremely active in the transfer market in the close season signing seven players, did not reveal the transfer fee nor the length of the contract for El Ouriachi, who declined a new contract offer from Barcelona.
“Moha’s excited about joining a Premier League club,” said Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes.
“He has seen the progress made by Bojan and Marc and wants to try to do likewise.”
El Ouriachi joins Spanish striker Joselu, goalkeepers veteran Irish international Shay Given and young Danish prospect Jakob Haugaard, defenders England international fullback Glen Johnson and German centreback Philipp Wollscheid plus Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, who is on loan from champions Chelsea, in joining the club.
Stoke, though, have lost two influential players.
Bosnian international goalkeeper Asmir Begovic moved to Chelsea on Monday and former French Under-21 international midfielder Steven Nzonzi was sold to Europa League holders Sevilla for a club record fee of A?7 million ($10.7m, 9.7m euros) last week.
By AFP