Stoke City have completed the signing of Inter Milan winger Xherdan Shaqiri for a club record fee of £12 million ($AU25.7 million).
The 23-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the Potters, making him their ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
Shaqiri singed for German champions Bayern Munich in 2012, but failed to secure a first team spot, only scoring 11 goals in 52 appearances.
Last season he was loaned out to Serie A club Inter Milan, then signed a four-year contract in January, but still failed to impress manager Roberto Mancini.
He was spotted at the Britannia stadium last weekend watching on as Stoke narrowly lost to Liverpool.
Shaqiri has nothing to lose joining Stoke as he has not only won the Bundesliga and the German Cup with Bayern Munich, he has also won the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup under Jupp Heynckes.
He is still only 23, is fast and agile, and will fit the fast pace of the Premier League. He is expected to debut against Tottenham on Sunday.
Stoke City finished ninth the past two season since Mark Hughes took charge, narrowly missing out on a Europa League qualification spot. Perhaps this season, with a new attacking threat, they can finish in the top seven.
A positive cup run could help boost Stoke City’s confidence throughout the league. Last season they were knocked out in the league cup by Southampton in the fourth round, and stunned by Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup fifth round, losing 4-1 at the Britannia Stadium.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Salah was dropped from the starting side for the visit to London - and the striker was involved in a furious confrontation with Klopp…
Liverpool have fallen further out of contention for the Premier League title - but that's perhaps the least of Jurgen Klopp's problems. Just as…
Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Feyenoord for their head coach Arne Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.…
The past 18-24 months have been an enjoyable ride for Arsenal and their fan-base after almost a decade of turbulence. Mikel Arteta has been…
Manchester City have chalked up another big win in their hunt for an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title, with Phil Foden continuing his…
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
