Premier League: Jermaine Pennant becomes a free agent after being released by Stoke City 
Jermaine Pennant has been released by Stoke, bringing to an end his three-and-a-half year stay at the Britannia stadium. The
former Arsenal and Liverpool player now becomes a free agent and can sign for another club even after the January transfer window expires. Pennant found games hard to come by under Mark Hughes and his final act in a Stoke shirt was to concede a last-minute penalty in the 1-1 draw with Everton on New Year's Day.
"I met with the manager and he was honest with me which I appreciated," Pennant was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror.
"I wasn't playing and at 31 now I need to be playing games. "I'd like to thank the club for the opportunity of a new challenge and would like to thank everyone at Stoke City and the fans for the fantastic support over the last few years.
"I'm looking forward to the new chapter in my life."
The 31-year-old signed from Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2010 before falling out with then manager Tony Pulis over claims
he failed to report for a team meeting the night before a Premier League game.
He was then sent out on loan to Wolves but having been brought in from the cold by Hughes and scoring in a 1-0 win at West Ham in August,
he was to make only seven further appearances.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11701/9132124/premier-league-jermaine-pennant-becomes-a-free-agent-after-being-released-by-stoke-city
