City Seal Record Signing Of JonesPosted on: Wed 11 Aug 2010
STOKE CITY have today smashed their transfer record by completing the £8 million capture of Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.
The 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international put pen to paper on a four year contract to seal his return to the Britannia Stadium where City manager Tony Pulis acquired him on loan for a short period earlier in his career in 2005.
The transfer tops the £6 million deal which saw Robert Huth join City from Middlesbrough shortly before the transfer deadline last August.
Pulis has long been an admirer of Jones who started his League career with Southampton before moving to Sunderland in 2007.
"Kenwyne is unplayable on his day which is why this is a fantastic signing for this Football Club," said City's manager in welcoming Jones.
"We need goals in our team and we also need strong competition among our strikers if we are to continue improving at this level.
"Kenwyne will give us that. It's no secret that I am one of his biggest admirers, he did a smashing job for us when he was here on loan. He was very young back then, but I believe that he has the best years ahead of him as a top striker."
Jones admitted that his short spell on loan at the Britannia Stadium had a strong bearing on his decision to make the switch to City now.
"The fact that I know the manager, some of the players and the place so well has obviously been an influence upon me coming here," he said.
"This is an exciting new chapter in my career and I want to do my best for a Club that has clearly had great success since I was last here.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of helping Stoke build upon the progress it has made over the past two years in the Premier League."
Chief Executive Tony Scholes said: "Breaking our transfer record once again - the fourth instance in two-and a half years - is a measure of the Club's ambitions as we look to continue moving forward and build upon our success under Tony Pulis.
"Kenwyne has been on Tony's wish list for some time and we are delighted to sign a striker who many of the country's top defenders consider to be a real handful on his day. This is an exciting acquisition for the Club."
Jones scored three goals in 13 appearances for City in his loan spell at the Britannia Stadium while he was still with his first club Southampton.
He is the latest recruit from Sunderland, a long list that includes former Stadium of Light team-mates Dean Whitehead, Danny Collins and Danny Higginbotham, as well as Rory Delap, Thomas Sorensen and Liam Lawrence.
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