Stoke City

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Sporting director Jon Walters wants to end the Stoke “graveyard” as he looks to reshape the club.

Stoke are facing a seventh straight season in the Championship and have never finished above 14th since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

The Potters are investing £10-12m for a new building for the first team with the women and Academy taking over a revamped version of the existing site.

It is the club’s biggest investment, which is due to start in September, in a single development since the bet365 Stadium was built in 1997.

Stoke finished 17th in the Championship last season, having replaced Alex Neil with Steven Schumacher in December – their fifth manager in just under five years.

Walters said: “It’s been a graveyard for players and managers, we’ve not done well in the last few years. Let’s be honest about it, we have underperformed in the last seven years. Where have we finished? It’s frustrating from the outside to watch but now I’m inside the building it’s my job to change that.

You have to do it properly.

“You can’t just throw £10m at a player. What if he gets injured or goes in a year? You have to build the foundations properly. If you put a cardboard house up it’ll fall down straight away so you have to put everything in place.

“The new building has been passed and hopefully it’ll start in September. I was here when we moved into Portakabins.”

Walters made his first major appointment this week with Lee Darnbrough joining from Hull as head of recruitment, following the exit of Jared Dublin last month.

“He was almost the sporting director in situ at Hull, with what he did with Liam (Rosenior) there,” said Walters. “He brings experience in the domestic and international market. He will have a lot more knowledge in that area and he will be able to push me. He is the right person, the right character to have in. He wants to grow himself. He is the perfect person.”

Defender Ben Gibson is expected to join the Potters after his release from Norwich while former team-mate Sam McCallum remains of interest to Stoke, with the defender available on a free transfer following his exit from the Canaries.

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Stoke City will spend up to £12m on their biggest project in 30 years.

The multi-million pound investment into The Potters’ Clayton Wood training ground is due to start in September and will take around 12 months to complete.

It’ll be Stoke’s biggest outlay on a single project since the building of the Bet365 Stadium in 1997. It’ll mean improved facilities for the men’s first team, academy and women’s team.

Vice-Chairman Richard Smith said: “This development is massive for Stoke City, both in terms of scope and importance.

“Once complete, it will elevate our first team facilities to among the best in the Championship and make them fit for Premier League football.

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Stoke City have revealed further details on their summer training programme.

Steven Schumacher's squad will fly to Ireland and spend a week-long training camp in Cork starting from Saturday, July 13 which will include a game against Cork City on July 17.

Prior to that, the Potters will go to Chester on Thursday, July 11 (KO 19:45 BST).

The pre-season schedule will also see them take on their Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday, July 23 (KO 19:30 BST).

The Potters then face last season's League Two winners Stockport County on Saturday, July 27, with the match to be played over two 60-minute halves (KO 14:00 BST).

Stoke will then travel to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, July 30 (KO 19:30 BST).

A final pre-season fixture has yet to be confirmed at the bet365 Stadium on the weekend of Saturday, August 3.

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Bae Junho has stolen the hearts of Stoke City fans far and wide.

After winning the club's player of the year award we asked you how highly you rated the South Korean forward? This is what you told us:

Phillip - Stoke should put a price tag on of £100m. Too often players like him get stolen for peanuts. Up the Potters

Steve - Vital ! He has pace and that unpredictability outside the penalty area which defenders find difficult to deal with. His weaving runs from the halfway line get supporters off their seats. On his day a real crowd pleaser.

Adrian - Simply put... pivotal.

Mark - A player unlikely to make much of a career so best just leave him at Stoke. Nothing to see here at all.

Do you agree? Let us know here.

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Stoke City have appointed Lee Darnbrough as the Club’s new Head of Recruitment.

The 46-year-old has moved to the bet365 Stadium after seven successful years at Hull City.

Darnbrough replaces Jared Dublin who left the club in May.

Talking about the new appointment, the Stoke City Sporting Director, Jonathan Walters said:

“We’re thrilled to have Lee on board. Bringing over 20 years of experience in the football industry and being well versed in Championship football, Lee will be able to hit the ground running at Stoke City as we prepare for the upcoming summer transfer window and beyond.

“His extensive network and knowledge of both the domestic and international markets will make him a valuable asset as we build our squad for the future.”

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Stoke City are in talks with the former Norwich City defender Ben Gibson.

The former Middlesbrough and Burnley centre-back is to become a free agent on July 1st and Stoke City are very keen on bringing him to the bet365 Stadium.

The 31-year-old would add plenty of experience to Steven Schumacher's squad, as well as providing another option as a left-sided defender.

Gibson's success at Championship level is also attractive, having twice won promotion to the Premier League with both Middlesbrough and Norwich City.

What do you think about this potential signing? Let us know your thoughts here..

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After being crowned Stoke City's player of the season, Bae Junho has earned his first senior international call-up for South Korea.

The Midfielder has been named in the squad ahead of his country’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Singapore and China PR in June.

South Korea hope to reach to the 2026 World Cup finals in North America and travel to Singapore on Thursday, June 6 (1pm BST) before hosting China PR on Tuesday, June 11 (12pm BST).

A win in either fixture will secure South Korea’s place in the Third Qualifying Round, which begins in September.

How important will Junho be to Stoke City's success next season? Let us know here.

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Stoke City defender Jaden Dixon came off the bench to help England U17s win their first match of the UEFA Euro finals in Cyprus.

The teenager was a 74th minute substitute during an emphatic 4-0 victory over last year’s finalists France in Group D.

The young Lions will remain at the Ammochostos Epistrofi Stadium to play Portugal on Friday before their final Group D match against Spain next Monday.

Stoke City's first summer signing, Viktor Johansson, said he was relieved to join the Potters and that it is a great club to join.

The Swedish international left Rotherham to sign a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke the 25-year-old said he was delighted to move to the bet365 Stadium:

"First of all it's a massive club, I've heard of it since I was a kid. I spoke to my Dad a lot and he agreed with everything. Secondly I felt wanted by the club and that is a massive feeling for me.

"I'm a family man, and when you feel wanted it's a different feeling. I want to come in and help the club be where they want to be."

Talking about where he thinks Stoke City should be, Johansson says the ambitions should be the Premier League:

"I want to be part of something where we aim high, where we feel the pressure from outside and you have to be on top of your game all the time.

"As soon as I heard Stoke I knew this is where I want to go, when you have that gut feeling saying this is your club and that's what I felt."

When asked about how much he is looking forward to starting at his new club he said: "I can't wait to see everyone [the fans] I've heard great things about the home and away support. I can't wait for the season to start and show them what I can do."

What do you think about this signing? Let us know your thoughts here.