Joe Allen ‘excited’ after £13m move to Stoke

Stoke have signed Wales midfielder Joe Allen from Liverpool.

The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be £13m (€15.5m).

He has struggled for playing time under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, having been restricted to mainly Europa League appearances last season.

However, he was a star of the Wales squad that reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

Stoke’s bid met Liverpool’s valuation of a player with less than 12 months remaining on his contract and means they recouped most of the £15m (€18m) they paid Swansea four years ago.

Allen said: “It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours for me, but I am delighted to have finally been able to put pen to paper. I was really excited as soon as I heard of the club’s interest and it wasn’t a difficult decision for me to make.”

Allen will fly out to link up with his new team-mates in Orlando today, after becoming manager Mark Hughes’ second summer signing, a few hours after Egypt winger Ramadan Sobhi arrived from Al Ahly.

Potters chief executive Tony Scholes said: “Joe is a player that Mark has admired for a considerable amount of time.

“Therefore, when we became aware of the possibility of bringing him to the club, it was something that we were determined to do. We have had to act swiftly... but we are delighted that we managed to get it over the line.”

Allen joins winger Sobhi at the Britannia Stadium after Stoke agreed a fee which could rise to €6m for the 19-year-old, who has been capped six times by his country.

Scholes said: “We are absolutely delighted to have signed a player of Ramadan’s undoubted quality and potential.

“He’s a special young talent, who is excited about the prospect of making an impact in the Premier League and we’re looking forward to giving him that platform.”

Sobhi has been granted a work permit and is expected to receive his UK visa in the next 48 hours.

Stoke have also tabled a £17m (€20.3m) bid, rising to £20m (€23.9m) with add-ons, for West Brom’s Saido Berahino.