Two more arrive at Potters

Two more arrive at Potters

Stoke City beat the transfer deadline to tie up a double swoop for midfielders Tom Soares and Michael Tonge.

The Potters agreed to pay Crystal Palace an initial fee of £1.25million for Soares, while Tonge arrived from Sheffield United in a deal that could rise to £2million.

Both players put pen to paper on four-year contracts at the Britannia Stadium.

Earlier on transfer deadline day, manager Tony Pulis also secured the return of former defender Danny Higginbotham from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

"We are delighted to have captured a very talented young English player like Tom," chief executive Tony Scholes told the club's official website.

"Despite being just 22 years old, he has amassed over 150 league appearances and also has Premier League experience.

"He is a player the manager rates extremely highly and we believe he will prove to be an excellent signing for the club."

On the signing of Tonge, Pulis added: "I have been a long-time admirer of him and he will bring a lot to our squad.

"He can play in a number of positions, which is important, and he will add some balance to the squad."