Stoke sign Jones in club record transfer

Stoke City on Wednesday signed striker Kenwyne Jones from English Premier League rivals Sunderland for a club record eight million pounds (12.5 million dollars) on a four-year deal.

The move, which comes just days before the start of the new Premier League season, saw Stoke top the six million pounds they spent on bringing defender Robert Huth to the Britannia Stadium from Middlesbrough in August last year.

“Kenwyne is unplayable on his day, which is why this is a fantastic signing,” said Stoke manager Tony Pulis, who briefly had the 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago forward on loan with City back in 2005.

Jones began his career at Southampton before joining Sunderland in 2007 and Pulis also told Stoke’s official website: “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 he has the best years ahead of him as a top striker.”

Jones said his previous experience of Stoke had helped sway his decision. “The fact 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,” added Jones, who scored three goals in 13 appearances in his loan spell.

Stoke finished 11th in the 20-team Premier League last season, two places above Sunderland, and Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said: “Breaking our transfer record once again – the fourth instance in two-and-a-half years – is a measure of the club’s ambitions as we look to continue moving forward and build upon our success under Tony Pulis.”

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, speaking before the deal was completed, voiced his annoyance at Jones’s inconsistency but told www.sunderlandecho.com: “I wish him well.

“There has always been a frustration with me that you see an abundance of talent but it has not come out often enough for us for whatever reason.”

Bruce added: “Stoke have been badgering me for a year. Everyone knows they love a big, traditional centre-forward and he might suit them.”

Stoke begin the new Premier League season away to Wolves on Saturday.