News from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City prepare for the official opening of the summer transfer window
Stoke City’s retained list in full has been published by the EFL ahead of the summer transfer window officially opening this week.
Stoke have already confirmed the departures of first teamers Tyrese Campbell, Wesley and Ciaran Clark, plus Tom Edwards and D’Margio Wright-Phillips, who had both left the club on loan over the last few months. Five loan players signed off too after helping secure Stoke’s status in the Championship last month.
Frank Fielding and Enda Stevens have agreed new deals to stay while Stoke have been in talks with Matthew Baker, Jack Griffiths and David Okagbue about signing new terms. There are first pro contracts on the table for Dean Adekoya, Josh Bickerton, Jake Griffin, Christy Grogan, Jaden Mears and Will Smith while New Zealand youth striker Adam Watson has a chance to stay on as a scholar.
There are some names which will be more unfamiliar than others in the list of contracted players. Freddie Anderson, son of Viv, is a highly-rated 17-year-old centre-half who joined from Manchester City last summer. Winger Edwin Andersson, aged 20, has struggled with fitness since joining from Chelsea two years ago.
Luke Badley-Morgan, who also came in from Chelsea in 2022, is a 20-year-old left-sided centre-half while Alfie Brooks is a 20-year-old goalkeeper who signed for Stoke from Birmingham last year. Rakealan Jeffers is a 19-year-old forward formerly on the books of Bradford City who signed for Stoke last August after a successful trial. Scott Morris joined as a back-up keeper mid-way through last season, having been given a chance by then-keeper coach Jonathan Gould, who had worked in New Zealand.
Gabriel Kelly was handed a pro deal when he turned 17 in December. The midfielder had previously been on Manchester City’s books and Stoke had to see off strong competition to bring him into their own academy. Darius Lipsiuc is another midfielder, aged 18, who has played for Republic of Ireland at youth level and moved to Clayton Wood in January from St Patrick’s Athletic. Forward Dara McGuinness, aged 20, is another St Pat’s old boy and Ireland junior international who joined Stoke via Shamrock Rovers in 2022.
England youth internationals Sol Sidibe and Jaden Dixon, both 17, are still listed among the scholars while winger Harry Crane has been around England camps too and centre-back Christy Grogan is an Irish youth international.
Stoke have already moved to bring in two senior players by signing goalkeeper Viktor Johansson from Rotherham and centre-back Ben Gibson from Norwich.
Contracted players: Freddie Anderson, Edwin Andersson, Luke Badley-Morgan, Bae Junho, Lewis Baker, Matthew Baker, Jack Bonham, Alfie Brooks, Wouter Burger, Andre Vidigal, Niall Ennis, Frank Fielding, Lynden Gooch, Jack Griffiths, Rakealan Jeffers, Daniel Johnson, Nikola Jojic, Gabriel Kelly, Josh Laurent, Mehdi Leris, Darius Lipsiuc, Nathan Lowe, Million Manhoef, Liam McCarron, Dara McGuinness, Ryan Mmaee, Scott Morris, David Okagbue, Ben Pearson, Michael Rose, Tommy Simkin, Enda Stevens, Junior Tchamadeu, Emre Tezgel, Jordan Thompson, Ben Wilmot
Scholars: Dean Adekoya, Sydney Agina, Hayder Ali Ali, Josh Bickerton, Ruben Brammer, Ollie Challinor, Harry Crane, Jaden Dixon, Luke Enright, Jake Griffin, Christy Grogan, Kobie Hines-Leacock, Ben Houston, Jackson Kelly, Josh Maskall, Jaden Mears, Zane Rattray, Sol Sidibe, Will Smith, Lewis Walker, Adam Watson, Michael Zeitzen
In talks: Matthew Baker, Jack Griffiths, David Okagbue
Extended: Frank Fielding, Enda Stevens
Offered first pro contracts: Dean Adekoya, Josh Bickerton, Jake Griffin, Christy Grogan, Jaden Mears, Will Smith
Offered third year as scholar: Adam Watson
Released: Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark, Tom Curl, Tom Edwards, Ian Kamga, Ben Kershaw, Blondy Nna Noukeu, Kahrel Reddin, Sonny Singh, Tom Sparrow, Wesley, D’Margio Wright-Phillips
Loan players returning to parent clubs: Luke Cundle, Sead Haksabanovic, Ki-Jana Hoever, Daniel Iversen, Luke McNally
Signed this summer: Ben Gibson, Viktor Johansson
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