Stoke City

Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson says he is hungrier than ever to get back playing for the Championship club.

The 27-year-old was part of the Sweden squad at the World Cup but did not make an appearance as Graham Potter's side reached the last 32, where they were beaten by France.

Johansson missed four months of last season after dislocating his shoulder against Sheffield United in December, only returning for the final game of the campaign at Bristol City, before agreeing a new four-year deal with the Potters in May.

"This is probably one of the first years in my career that it felt like coming home - I missed it so much during the off-season and my family missed it as well," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"That tells you a lot about the club and how we feel at home which is a nice feeling and seeing Svante (Ingelsson) here as well who I have been playing with in previous years and how he's fitting into the group."

Stoke have signed goalkeeper Josh Griffiths from West Brom to add further competition for the position but Johansson believes it is a positive addition for the club.

"It was painful not to be playing but at the same time I was really happy for Tommy (Simkin) to get some game time and Gavin (Bazunu) as well but I am really hungry to play," he added.

"I've always been one of those players and keepers who want to push each other - Josh and I have a great relationship already. We've spoken about things and I'll support him when he plays and he'll support me."

Stoke start the new Championship season at home to Swansea City on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).

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This season Stoke City will embark on another quest in which they hope to experience the "sweet smell of success" that a return to the Premier League after nearly a decade would bring.

But there was another time, 33 years ago, when the air around the club literally hung heavy with supporters being encouraged to "splash it all over".

In 1993, Stoke launched its own brand of toiletries, including a deodorant, body wash and aftershave.

BBC Radio Stoke took a look back to the time when the club had the scent of expectation...

Bristol City, Stoke City, Sheffield United and Preston North End are battling for the signature of Ipswich Town right-back Harry Clarke, 25, with the Robins the most advanced in their pursuit of the Englishman. (Talksport), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

A new episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is now available.

Lucas Yeomans, Matt Sandoz and former Stoke City Academy technical director Gareth Owen discuss Stoke's pre-season in Austria, lack of transfer rumours and the end of the World Cup.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds

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FC Halifax Town have signed Stoke City goalkeeper True Grant on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old came through Manchester City's academy and was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2024.

Grant previously worked with Shaymen boss John McGrath during a season-long loan spell with National League North side Buxton in 2024-25, before joining the Potters last summer.

He is the son of former Derby County and Stoke City goalkeeper, and now Walsall boss, Lee Grant.

Halifax finished eighth in the National League last season.

Harry Souttar is a potential transfer target for West Ham United following Leicester City's relegation to League One. The Hammers' Championship rivals Wrexham, Sheffield United and the 27-year-old defender's former club Stoke City are also interested in the Australian international. (Daily Record), external

West Ham are also interested in taking 19-year-old Arsenal defender Jaden Dixon on loan. Dixon joined Arsenal from Stoke in March having started his career at the Gunners' north London rivals, Tottenham. (Pete O'Rourke), external

You can find more of Monday's EFL gossip here.

Image source, Getty Images

Erik Pieters says he will use his new role in Stoke City's academy to help instil the club's DNA into the players.

The former Netherlands left-back spent six years with the Potters in the Premier League, becoming a cult hero during his 206 appearances in all competitions.

He is now back as a professional development coach with the under-21 side and will also play as an overage player.

"Obviously, I'm not going to stop any talent from coming through so [I will play] only when they need me, but I'm there training with them," the 37-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I can read the game earlier than the young lads. I can put them in the right position and instead of doing a half-time talk, or after the game, nine to 10 times I can see it coming and so I can do it straight away on the pitch.

"I think that benefits myself but also benefits the whole team, and reading the game and explaining it afterwards why I did certain changes hopefully makes them understand the game better."

Pieters, who also played for Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, said having spent much longer in the Potteries means Stoke will always be special.

"Stoke always meant something. So for me, being back here and giving something back, that's something I want to achieve.

"It's my first team in England, [they] gave me the dream to play in the Premier League and we did quite well, so there's always going to be a special place for Stoke in my heart."

Pieters said he would use his bond with the club to tell the young players what playing for Stoke means.

"I know what it was, how it was, what Stoke DNA is. I think that's really important, but I think also we must not forget about the fans.

"The fans don't expect us to play like Manchester City or like all the fancy teams. The only thing they want to see is heart and desire for the club, for the badge.

"Working hard and working for your badge, believing in what you're doing, giving something back to the fans is the minimum you can do."

BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is BACK!

Lucas Yeomans and Matt Sandoz are joined by former Stoke City defender Gareth Owen to chat new signings, pre-season preparations and Nathan Lowe's loan to Hibernian.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Hibernian FC

Nathan Lowe believes in setting himself high targets - and the striker is aiming to be the Scottish Premiership's top scorer at the end of his season on loan to Hibernian from Stoke City.

Only 20, the Englishman describes himself as "an old head on young shoulders" and is not making any promises to fans he realises would have been disappointed with last season's fifth-place finish.

But he told Hibs TV: "One thing about me, you can say what you want, but I will be in the area to score goals because that's the only reason I play football.

"That's what gets me up every morning to go and train.

"I don't think I could be a right-back or left-back or anything like that - I was born to be a striker."

Lowe scored 18 goals in half a season on loan to League Two's Walsall, then seven in half a season with Stockport County in League One and four to finish off last season with Wycombe Wanderers, also in England's third tier.

"By no means am I the finished article and I won't be at the end of this loan," he admitted.

"But every season I go into, my aim is to be the top goalscorer in the league.

"At Walsall, I was. Last season, not so much. Hopefully I can add to my tally significantly here."

Lowe was attracted to "a new challenge" of playing different teams and experiencing European football with Hibs.

"Hibs' aim should be third or higher and there's no reason why we can't do that and a good run in Europe and the cup competitions," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Hibernian have signed Nathan Lowe on a season-long loan from Stoke City, with head coach David Gray saying the forward was the "physical presence" and "natural goalscorer" he had been seeking.

The 20-year-old England Under-19 cap came through the Championship club's youth ranks and has already had loan spells with Walsall, Stockport County and Wycombe Wanderers.

Lowe made his senior debut in February 2023, signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Stoke the following January and has agreed an extension until 2029 to coincide with his loan to the Scottish Premiership.

He has made eight starts and 21 substitute appearances for Stoke, scoring twice, but it was with Walsall in League Two where he was most prolific, scoring 18 goals and providing seven assists in 30 appearances as he earned the English League Two Young Player of the Year Award.

Last season, he scored 11 as he spent the first half of the season with Stockport and the second with League One rivals Wycombe.

"He brings a great energy and enthusiasm about his play, as well as a physical presence," Gray told his club website.

"He is a natural goalscorer and he has proven that he can score a range of different types of goals.

"He has good experience too, having already played a substantial amount of games at a competitive level despite his young age."

Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters told his club website: "Nathan has no doubt benefitted from the experiences he's had in Leagues One and Two and it speaks to his mature character that he wants to test himself in a new environment in Scotland.

"That he will also gain exposure to playing in European competition is something new and will only help his development.

"We will keep a close eye on his progression."

Stoke and South Korea midfielder Bae Junho, 22, is a target for Ligue 1 side Lyon, with just a year left on his contract. (FootMercato - In French, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Stoke City players Erik Pieters and Danny Pugh have returned to the Championship club to take coaching roles in the academy.

Pieters, 37, made more than 200 appearances during a six-year stay with the Potters between 2013 and 2019.

The former Netherlands international has been appointed as a professional development coach, while the defender will also be available as an overage player for the under-21 team.

Pugh initially joined Stoke on loan from Preston in 2007 before making the move permanent for £500,000 in January 2008.

The 43-year-old will help to coach the under-18s, having previously held the same position between 2021 and 2023.

Academy Director Jack Higgins said: "In Erik and Danny, we are adding two people with strong links to the football club to our professional development phase staff."

Image source, Getty Images

Forest Green Rovers have signed defender Sydney Agina on loan until January from Championship side Stoke.

The 18-year-old academy player has also agreed a new two-year contract extension to stay with the Potters.

Agina made five league appearances for Stoke in the closing stages of last season and also earned his first international cap for Kenya in a friendly last month.

"We believe further exposure to first-team football at a good level, on a consistent basis, is the logical next step for him to take," said Stoke director of football Jonathan Walters.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says Stoke City are utilising the Championship's new squad spending rules to rebuild this summer.

The Potters have so far brought in Ethan Galbraith, Svante Ingelsson, Djibril Soumare and Luke Graham, as well as making Milan Smit's move permanent, for a reported combined total of about £21m.

They have also signed West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths for an undisclosed fee, with the influx of arrivals coming after sporting director Jonathan Walters promised "multiple signings".

Squad Cost Rules (SCR) replaced profit and sustainability in the second tier for the 2026-27 season onwards, allowing clubs to spend 85% of their income on players and managers.

Previously, teams were limited to losses of £39m across a three-year period.

Stoke were one of just three Championship clubs to record a profit in 2024-25, but only did so because a £90m loan was waived by new owner John Coates to offset what otherwise would have been a £29m loss.

Owners are now also allowed to inject up to £33m into their club over three years, providing they do not top up the kitty by more than £15m per season.

"I think it gives clubs a little bit more leeway and that's provided the owner is willing to provide that funding," Maguire told BBC Radio Stoke.

"If you take a look at the commercial income for Stoke City, it's about half of the total the club generates, which is higher than that of many of the peer group that Stoke have in the Championship. So that will benefit the club.

"And also there's no doubt the Coates family, who have been amazingly beneficial owners, will continue to do that."

Maguire explained that transfer payments are also often broken down into instalments, with only the money spent in any given season taken into consideration by the EFL as a "cash management based approach".

"Let's say that you are paying £5m for a player but you're spreading that as perhaps £2m this year, £2m in another year and £1m as a final payment," he added.

"Only £2m of that will go into your calculations [for 2026-27], therefore the small print of transfers does allow smart negotiation by clubs to put them in a beneficial position as far as these SCR rules are concerned."

Image source, Shutterstock

Serbian forward Nikola Jojic has left Stoke City by mutual consent.

The 22-year-old joined the Potters on a four-year deal in 2023 but made only one league appearance, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 Championship defeat by Preston in September the same year.

Jojic spent last season on loan at Slovenian club NK Radomlje and has also had spells with Mladost Lucani in Serbia and HNK Gorica in Croatia.

He leaves Stoke having only added a Carabao Cup substitute appearance in a 6-1 win over Rotherham, also in 2023, to his tally at the bet365 Stadium.

Stoke City are interested in signing striker Daniel Karlsbakk from Norwegian top flight club Sarpsborg 08. The 23-year-old has scored 24 goals in 44 Eliteserien games since moving from Heerenveen. (Pete O'Rourke), external

You can find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.