ETEBO SEALS FIVE-YEAR DEAL WITH STOKE CITY
Stoke City have signed Nigeria international Peter Etebo on a five-year-deal from Feirense.
The midfielder took a break from Nigeria’s World Cup preparations to complete the deal, and will link up with the Championship outfit after the World Cup in Russia, the club announced on Monday.
Etebo, 22, moves to the English club from Portuguese side Feirense for a fee of €7.2 million after spending only two years with them.
He moved to Feirense in January 2016 from Nigeria’s Warri Wolves and spent the second half of last season on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas.
During his time in Spain, the Nigerian assisted once in 14 appearances, as Las Palmas suffered relegation after finishing 19th in the league table.
Stoke’s Chief Executive Tony Scholes said: “We are delighted Etebo has chosen to join Stoke City, becoming our first signing of the summer.
“I’m particularly pleased that he took the time to look beyond our current league status and understand who we are as a club before choosing us ahead of current Premier League and Bundesliga clubs.”
News of the signing has also been welcomed by newly appointed manager Gary Rowett, who revealed his excitement for the arrival of Etebo.
“We’re really excited to have got the deal over the line for Etebo. I’m looking forward to seeing him in a Stoke City shirt as I’m sure our supporters are too,” Rowett said.
“Etebo is a very mobile, energetic midfielder and he’s a great age. He has played in the top divisions in Portugal and Spain and, of course, he’s heading into the World Cup with Nigeria which will be an amazing experience for him.”
Etebo, who is a member of Nigeria’s 23-man squad for Russia 2018, has been capped 14 times by Nigeria.
The Super Eagles were drawn in group D, where they will face Argentina, Iceland, and Croatia, with the African side hoping to qualify from the group stages for the fourth time in their history•