Stoke manager Tony Pulis hailed Steven Nzonzi as an “outstanding” prospect after making the 23-year-old his third midfield signing of transfer deadline day.
Nzonzi’s capture on a four-year contract – for an initial fee of STG3.5 million ($A5.40 million) which could eventually rise to STG5 million – followed the arrivals of fellow midfielders Charlie Adam and Maurice Edu from Liverpool and Rangers respectively.
Adam and Edu have been given the all-clear to feature in today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at the DW Stadium, while Nzonzi may have to wait a while longer for his debut.
The France Under-21 international Nzonzi told www.stokecityfc.com: “I am very happy to be here and I would like to thank Stoke for giving me this chance because I felt that I was ready for a move and a new challenge.
“There is strong competition for places here at Stoke, but that is part of the game and that can only help to make me an even better player.”
Nzonzi began his career in France with Amiens before joining Blackburn in the summer of 2009, and was named Rovers’ player of the year in his first season.
Pulis said: “Steven is an outstanding young prospect. He has made a big impact in the Premier League since he arrived at Blackburn three years ago and I am sure he will prove to be an excellent addition to our squad.
“He is the type of player who will endear himself to our supporters.”
Scotland international Adam signed for an undisclosed fee – believed to be in the region of STG4 million – just a year after Kenny Dalglish signed him for Liverpool from Blackpool.
Adam struggled to make a significant impact at Anfield and has made just one start this season under Dalglish’s successor Brendan Rodgers.
The 26-year-old told Sky Sports News: “When a new manager comes in he is going to change the way the team plays and that is the way it goes, that is football.
“I owe a lot of respect to Liverpool and to how people like Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli (the Reds’ former director of football) brought me there.
“I owe them a lot and I respect Brendan Rodgers and what he does.
“He is a top manager and hopefully in the future he will do well. But I’m looking forward to getting a Stoke shirt on.”
