Englishman Glen Johnson, after being released by Liverpool on June 10, was searching for teams to sign with until now, as he has decided on Premier League squad Stoke City.
The 30-year-old will join the Potters on a two-year deal after a long six-year term at Anfield.
Capped 54 times at the international level for the Three Lions, he demonstrated his prowess to keep the right back position solid for many years.
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Johnson was a part of West Ham’s youth system from 2000-2002 before earning himself a spot in the first team and consequently exiting to Chelsea in 2003. A two-year period playing for Portsmouth ended in 2009 to yield the beginning of his tenure with the Reds.
“Glen will be a fantastic addition to our squad,” manager Mark Hughes said, via Sky Sports. “He commanded a huge transfer fee when he left Portsmouth for Liverpool (£18m) but dealt with the pressure that comes with that. He’s a talented defender who also chips in with goals as we discovered last season when he scored the winner against us at Anfield.”
Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes added: “There was no shortage of clubs interested in him after he left Liverpool but he very much sees his future as a Stoke City player and we are delighted he has chosen to join us.”
European sides Monaco, Roma, and Bestikas, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona, were linked to Johnson’s open departure this summer.