Stoke City have given their front line a significant boost just in time for the new Premier League season by signing Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones for a club-record 8 million pounds.
The Porters have been in the market for a new striker all summer, and there have been links with the likes of West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Nice’s Loic Remy, but in the end, Stoke boss Tony Pulis has gone for a familiar face in the 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago star. While on the books at Southampton, Jones had a loan spell at Stoke in the 2004/05 season, scoring three goals in 13 appearances.
Jones left Southampton for Sunderland in August 2007, and in three seasons with the Black Cats, scored 26 Premier League goals. Last season, he scored nine league goals in 24 starts.
Pulis talked up his record signing, saying, “Kenwyne is unplayable on his day which is why this is a fantastic signing for this club.”
“We need goals in our team and we also need strong competition among our strikers if we are to continue improving at this level.”
“Kenwyne will give us that. It’s no secret that I am one of his biggest admirers, he did a smashing job for us when he was here on loan. He was very young back then, but I believe that he has the best years back then, but I believe that he has the best years ahead of him as a top striker.”
Jones said of his move, “The fact that I know the manager, some of the players and the place so well has obviously been an influence upon me coming here.”
“This is an exciting new chapter in my career and I want to do my best for a club that has clearly had great success since I was last here. I am looking forward to the challenge of helping Stoke build upon the progress it has made over the past two years in the Premier League.”
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
