Stoke City have confirmed their signing of former Town skipper Jon Walters on a four-year deal and have revealed that the fee is £2.75 million rising to £3.25 million on appearances. The Potters were initially linked with a move for the 26-year-old two years ago.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "I have been looking to bring more goals to the squad and Jon certainly fits that bill.

"He has been one of the outstanding performers in the Championship over the past three years and I am confident the lad can make the same sort of impact in the Premier League now that he has been given this opportunity.

"The fact that he is versatile will increase competition for places in the squad which is something we have been looking to achieve."

Walters says he is delighted to make the switch: "It's always good to know that a manager has that faith in your ability and that was certainly an influence on my decision to come here.

"I am excited about moving here and it is the fulfilment of a long term goal of mine to get back into the Premier League.

"I had a sniff of it in my time at Bolton, but I knew that in dropping down the leagues, it would take a lot of hard work to get back there one day.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ipswich, especially being the captain of the club, but this was the opportunity I had been working towards and I'm glad it's come at a club like Stoke."

Town chief executive Simon Clegg paid tribute to Walters's time at Portman Road: “I would like to thank Jon for the hard work, commitment and professionalism he has shown on the pitch during his career at Portman Road.

“Recognising that every player’s dream is to play in the Premier League we are delighted that Jon has achieved this goal and we wish him every success at his new club.

“I am sure our supporters will see that this is very good business for the club, one of the most significant transfer deals in the club’s history, and will join us in sending their best wishes to Jon for his future career.”

On Friday, QPR made a bid for Walters but the former Republic of Ireland B international, who comes from Birkenhead, has long been understood to want a move back to the north.

Photo: Action Images

GetInTheGameScowcrof added 16:31 - Aug 18 About time, have fun warming the benches in the Premier League. Now let's stop messing about and get someone decent in up front, Chopra please!!!!
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chappie added 16:34 - Aug 18 I'm sure Keane has lodged his wish list with Clegg - its now up to him to spend it wisely and close the deals, not Keane. Dont panic buy, but we cant wait too long as the combo of Stead and Priskin isnt going to set the championship alight and Norris wont keep on scoring to ease the pressure! When is Wickham due back?
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cphtractor added 16:36 - Aug 18 Excelent deal for town...Best of luck Jon, shame about the club you are joining.
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joshuanelli added 16:38 - Aug 18 Good Riddance to Jon Walters !! No player is bigger than the club !!! Please spend the money wisely Keano! COYB
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parkinshair added 16:40 - Aug 18 I would normally wish a player well and have no problems with them wanting to join a premier league side. Walters however seemed to show total disrespect for the club that pretty much resurrected his career, so jog on. I'm sorry but his latest words of affection don't wash.
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arc added 16:40 - Aug 18 "It's always good to know that a manager has that faith in your ability and that was certainly an influence on my decision to come here"--was that last dig at Keane necessary? Keane had nothing but praise for him over the off-season when others were skeptical, and Keane made him captain. Give the Chester sell-on cash to the St John's Ambulance.
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maimeetang added 16:41 - Aug 18 Good onya Jon and good luck.
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ozzy_itfc added 16:41 - Aug 18 I can see why priskin is worth 1.5 mil if Walters is worth 3 hahahah
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we8naarwich added 16:45 - Aug 18 Stoke have been mugged - Walters is an average Championship player at best, NOT Premier league. £3m is an unbelievable price - Good servant but not worth a third of that. Fair play to Clegg/Evans/Keano. Awesome bit of business. Now for a decent replacement please ......... (Chops and/or Scotland)
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Bill_Hicks added 16:53 - Aug 18 Fantastic bit of business; cost just £100K! I feel compelled to offer my congratulations to any Stoke City Fan reading this, you have purchased a one season wonder, problem for you is, he has already had it. Been consistently poor for the last 2 seasons. He eneded up at Chester for a reason you know. The sort of player who should be pinching himself everyone morning just at the thought of being a pro footballer, let alone playing in the Premiership. He will get found out pretty quick.

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FifeITFC added 16:54 - Aug 18 woolyhattedliberal: Beattie has already gone.
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burnbudgiesburn added 16:56 - Aug 18 Sad to see someone who always gave everything go slightly bitterly... Looked a £5m player three seasons ago but the last couple has looked little more than a £250k one so Town are getting a stonkingly good price. Will we have to pay Chester City any cash? Since we obviously made the deal with the old CCFC and not the new one.
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_Mhs_ added 17:02 - Aug 18 Jason scotland for 750k, McCormack for however much they want for him, then im thinking a midfielder as back-up for hyam. This money has freed up funds, i know risking money back fired on us last year, but we need to risk it and pay out the money! lets face it, if we dont make it to at least the play-offs this year, keane will be gone anyway.
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dubblue added 17:02 - Aug 18 Agree he has done the club some service, pity he left under a dark cloud! lets hope we spend the fee money wisely!!
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muhrensleftfoot added 17:05 - Aug 18 Will the last one to leave turn out the lights....Stead next, then Pablo (if anyone wants him). This is going back to the latter days of Joe Royle, when the squad was so thin. What news of Jason Scotland or Chopra or McCormack? Our decent start to the season will be hard to maintain unless we get new players in and injured players return such as Wickham, Leadbitter, Civelli, Kennedy. We never hear of Civelli any more. I though he was only going to be out for around 10 days after his last setback pre season?

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8ashblue added 17:06 - Aug 18 At his best he was top player for the Club and even when he seemed to be overplayed he still tried so good luck to him. Like many i was a bit disappointed with his haste in leaving but glad that RK stood his ground. What we get in exchange is anyone's guess at present, another Marcus Stewart would be great. COYB
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onlybluesandhorses added 17:10 - Aug 18 All the best Jon.
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nitroblue1970 added 17:14 - Aug 18 wow what a sweet deal!..all that cash!...why would stoke be happy to spend 3 Million on a bench warmer is beyond me!...just for a change we dont get stiffed on a transfer deal!...i think he will be back in the championship on loan to another club in january!
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blueherts added 17:17 - Aug 18 Lambert - The taffs are messing about but would love Whittingham , Chops and McCormack ??? still need cover for Norris and Leadbitter and a Right Back !!
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smellmycheese added 17:18 - Aug 18 One of the most significant deals in the clubs history? What are you on about Clegg?a significant deal is Marcus Stewart signing,reuser signing, Herman signing.NOT selling one of the clubs best players.Are you trying to claim this as a success? Get some good players in,then you can call that a significant deal.
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onlybluesandhorses added 17:20 - Aug 18 I have little time for Clegg but good to see some classy comments from him about Jon's departure which were a pleasant contrast to Keane's unseemly (and Un-Ipswich-like) behaviour.
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bluelady added 17:28 - Aug 18 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6320526,00.html come on Clegg sort it out - according to Sky McCormack is free for a loan/sale without the need to swap and the Hull move has fallen through...........
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sixtouchfootball added 17:30 - Aug 18 The only way this deal will be perceived as 'significant' would be if 2 or 3 good players actually arrived at portman road!! But as i can't see that happening, i can only assume Clegg really has lost the plot and doesn't know what he is talking about.
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Itfcjp added 17:37 - Aug 18 He has been one of the outstanding performers in the Championship - hahahahahahahahahaha
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TMWNN_1996 added 17:46 - Aug 18 I can't help but think this may be another one of those cases where northern wife doesn't settle in the south and has been demanding a move back to the northern shops.... Footballers in my day were real men who could say no to their WAGS. Any way - all the best Walters, at best you were average, and at the end of the day your selfless sacrifice has ensured we have £3m to spend on some quality strikers. I will give you 2 years and you will be back playing for Chester....or someone of the same calibre

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