Tony Pulis Nabs Four Signings for Stoke on Deadline Day

Stoke City signed Jermaine Pennant, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Marc Wilson, and Salif Diao in a busy transfer deadline day.

Pennant has joined on loan until January from Real Zaragoza. The former U-21 England international has previously played for Arsenal and Liverpool, among other teams, in England. The 27-year-old winger moved to Spain in 2009.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, 31, joins on a season-long loan deal from Monaco. Gudjohnsen played the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham, where he scored two goals in 14 appearances. 

The versatile Marc Wilson, 23, joined from Portsmouth on a permanent contract. He captained Portsmouth last season, and manager Steve Cotterill expressed a desire to keep him at the club.

Wilson joined in a cash-plus-player deal, with Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson going the other way.

After signing a four-year deal with the Cottagers, Wilson said: "It is great to be back in the Premier League.

"I had a taste of playing in the Premier League last season; it is the best league in the world and I wanted to get back there as soon as possible."

Salif Diao, 33, re-signed for Stoke on a two-year deal. The Senegalese international midfielder left at the end of last season when his contract expired, and has been exploring a move abroad.

"It is fantastic. He is not only an experienced head, but a good person to have around," said manager Tony Pulis.

"We made it perfectly clear there would always be a welcome for him back here and we're delighted he has signed now."

Diao's new contract includes an international ambassadorial role, and he said he felt he owed a debt of gratitude to Pulis. Diao joined Stoke on a permanent deal in 2007 from Liverpool, after an initial loan spell.

Pulis has expressed frustration in the past over bringing players to Britannia Stadium. As the transfer deadline moved to a close, it looked as if this would be another difficult transfer window for the Cottagers.

Pulis' efforts paid off on the final day of the transfer window. All four of the new additions have Premier League experience, and should be expected to bolster Stoke's squad for this Premier League campaign.