Tony Pulis hit the Stoke City transfer jackpot with 3m West Ham deal

"Under the guidance of Tony Pulis, the Potters were hot favourites for the drop upon their promotion, and sought to add to their roster over the summer window to add bits of quality throughout the squad. The likes of Dave Kitson, Seyi Olofinjana, Danny Higginbotham, Abdoulaye Faye, and Thomas Sorensen all made the move to the bet365 Stadium, then known as the Britannia Stadium."

"Stoke made it to the halfway point in the season still well within a chance of staying up, after impressive home victories over the likes of Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal, but Pulis still wasn't content, and dived back into the market that January. In came James Beattie from Sheffield United on a permanent deal to add another striker to the mix, whilst Henri Camara and Stephen Kelly joined on loan."

"Stoke's fourth, and frankly, best piece of business that January was undoubtedly the purchase of Matthew Etherington from West Ham United, with the winger making the move from Upton Park for a fee of around £3 million. The then 27-year-old began his professional career with Peterborough United before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2000."

Stoke City achieved historic promotion to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship behind West Bromwich Albion in 2007/08. Despite being widely tipped for relegation, Tony Pulis implemented a strategic transfer strategy. Summer signings included Dave Kitson, Seyi Olofinjana, Danny Higginbotham, Abdoulaye Faye, and Thomas Sorensen. The team impressed with home victories over Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Arsenal by mid-season. In January, Pulis made additional signings including James Beattie, Henri Camara, and Stephen Kelly. Matthew Etherington's £3 million transfer from West Ham proved particularly impactful, with the winger's performances remaining highly regarded.

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