Potters seal Shawcross deal
18 Jan 2008 - 09:24:12
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has completed the permanent signing of Manchester United defender Ryan Shawcross for an initial fee of £1million.
The transfer fee for the 20-year-old, who has penned a three-and-a-half year contract at the Britannia Stadium, could eventually rise to £2million.
Shawcross scored seven goals in 29 appearances for the Potters during a loan spell with the club in the first half of this season.
Stoke's chief executive Tony Scholes told the club's official website: "He's a player of only 20 years of age with huge potential and we're delighted that we've been able to sign him on a permanent deal.
"Ryan's been with us on loan since the start of the season and has already demonstrated his class.
"The fact that we've been able to secure Ryan's signature despite competition from a number of other clubs demonstrates how far we've come as a club in the last 12 months."
Shawcross is Pulis' fourth signing of the month following the captures of Leon Cort, Danny Pugh and Andy Griffin.