Stoke seal permanent Pennant deal

AFP, Wednesday 29 Dec 2010

Stoke City have signed winger Jermaine Pennant on a permament deal for Spanish side Real Zaragoza following a loan spell, the English Premier League club announced Wednesday

Jermaine Pennant
Stoke City signed a permanent deal with winger Jermaine Pennant

Pennant, who made his name at Arsenal, joined the Potters on a temporary basis in pre-season after failing to cement a spot at Zaragoza.

But now Stoke have given him a two-year contract, subject to international clearance and registration with English football authorities in a deal that has already cost the Midlands club 1.725 million pounds (2.668 million dollars) and could rise to 2.8 million pounds (4.3 million dollars).

"I think everyone knows how I feel about being at this football club," Pennant told stokecityfc.com.

"The supporters, players and management have been absolutely fantastic to me over these past four months and I desperately wanted to stay here because I love it so much," the 27-year-old added.

"I know I have only been here a few months, but it really does feel like I have been here for years. The atmosphere around the place is brilliant, so I am looking forward to the fact that I am here at Stoke now for the long term and back in the best league in the world."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis, whose side are 10th in the 20-team Premier League, said: "This is fantastic news, just what we all wanted.

"Jermaine has made such a big impact since he has been with us and he has become a big favourite with the supporters, so I know that everyone will be delighted that we have completed this signing.

"The important thing has been getting him comfortable and settled, and now that we have done that I am sure he can go on to play an even bigger part in our plans.

"Natural wingers are hard to come by, but we have two of them with Jermaine on the right and Matty Etherington on the left, so that gives us a real threat down both flanks."

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