“Hang on. Didn’t he play for us?!?”
It’s getting a bit spooky.
Every time they turn on the football, whether it’s Match Of The Day, International Football or EFL Highlights, Stoke City fans are doing a double-take.
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It seems former Potters’ players are turning up everywhere. And what’s spookier is that some players who struggled to get into an inconsistent Stoke team are now turning up in the Premier League, Wembley finals or even scoring on their debut for England!
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This didn’t used to happen as the likes of Tony Pulis would squeeze the last drop of talent out of his players, often leaving them with nothing more to give.
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However, since Stoke’s 2018 relegation, the club has gone through a number of talented players that have since moved on to different climates. The surprise perhaps is how successful some of them have been.
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In fact, to re-assemble the following players as a team would probably cost well in excess of £150m!
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So, who are these players:
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Goalkeepers:
Mark Travers: Mark came on loan in 2023 from Bournemouth. After really impressing during 14 Stoke appearances, he was yanked back to The Cherries, and is now playing Premier League football. He even helped AFC to a 2-1 win over the mighty Man City two weeks ago! This will help his blossoming international career – he was on the Irish bench for this week’s England clash. Oh, how Alex Neil wished he could’ve kept Mark, who by all accounts didn’t initially want to leave Stoke.
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Blondy Noukeu: A crowd favourite at Stoke since arriving in 2021, despite never getting a game (apart from the odd friendly). The youngster found himself so far down the pecking order he felt lucky to get a kick-around in the park with jumpers-for-goals! However, as of last August, he’s been on the bench with league-leaders Sunderland.
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Defenders:
Nathan Collins: Made his debut under Nathan Jones in 2019, and even became Stoke’s youngest captain. Despite him not always being first choice under Michael O’Neill, Premier club Burnley snapped him up in 2021, although he failed to save them from relegation. He then joined Premier League Wolves, before moving again to become captain of Brentford! He’s now also the captain of Ireland.
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Harry Souttar: The tall centre back was too good to keep, and was sold for a small fortune (c£17m) to Premier League Leicester in January 2023. He couldn’t save them from relegation, and didn’t feature much in their return to the Prem, so he’s now on loan at Sheffield United, currently 2nd in the Championship. His international career with Australia is still going great-guns.
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Harry Clarke: Signed on loan in 2022 from Arsenal (although he never played for them), Harry was utilised as a right back by Michael O’Neill. After 20 appearances he was recalled in 2023, and swiftly sold to Ipswich, whom he helped get promoted to the Premier.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis: Another of Michael O’Neill’s 2022 loan players – MON could certainly spot them – this time from the outer fringes of Manchester City (although he did score in a cup game against Port Vale). After 24 Stoke games Pep loaned him to Burnley, helping them get promotion to the Premier. He then was loaned to Southampton helping them get promotion to the Premier! Then he joined Premier League Southampton for c£20m. Then he made his debut for England. Then he scored on his England debut!! Who’d have thought?
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Midfielders:
Alfie Doughty: Yet another Michael O’Neill signing (from Charlton in 2021), but Alfie struggled with injury and never actually started for Stoke, making only 11 substitute appearances. He then joined Luton in 2022, helping them to promotion to the Premier in 2023 through the playoffs. (He assisted the winning semifinal goal.) He played a whole season in the Premier, but couldn’t help keep Luton up.
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Will Smallbone: A Southampton player taken on loan in 2022 by…Michael O’Neill again. He’d made a few Premier appearances for the Saints, but 46 appearances for Stoke prepared him for a long promotion season returning Southampton to the Premiership, assisting the winning goal in the 2024 playoff final at Wembley. However, he did debut for Ireland whilst at Stoke.
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Josh Laurent: Snapped up by…Michael O’Neill in 2022. He was made club captain by Alex Neil, but then sold in August 2024 to Burnley, currently 4th in the Championship.
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James McClean: Signed by Gary Rowett in 2018, McClean was an experienced, controversial yet passionate player. A frustrated Michael O’Neill sold him in 2021 to Wigan in League One. In his first season with them they were champions. Then in 2023 he joined the Hollywood-owned Wrexham, and of course they were promoted in his first season with them. He’s now got them on course to promotion to the Championship!
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Jack Clarke: Signed on loan from Spurs by Michael O’Neill in 2021, this exciting winger made 14 appearances for Stoke before being injured. He then joined Sunderland, helping them get promoted to the Championship in 2022 via the Wembley playoff final. He’s now playing in the Premier League for Ipswich.
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Jaden Philogene-Bidace: Jaden was yet another MON loan signing, this time from Aston Villa. After 11 games & 1 goal, Villa sold him to Hull…and then bought him back for c£15m! He’s currently playing on the wing for them in the Premier!
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Forwards:
Jacob Brown: Signed by Michael O’Neill in 2020 from Barnsley. In 2022 he was top scorer, Player of the Season and playing for Scotland. In 2023 he signed for Premier League Luton, playing 19 games in their relegation season.
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Liam Delap: Signed on loan by Michael O’Neill in 2022, he returned to Manchester City after 23 games. In 2024 he signed for Premier League Ipswich, and is scoring freely.
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Tyrese Campbell: Not really eligible for this group as he debuted for Stoke before they were relegated, Tyrese scored 31 goals in 146 appearances between 2018 and 2024. He’s now knocking them in for 2nd place Sheffield United, scoring the winner in the recent derby against Wednesday, and scoring against Stoke in a 2-0 win.
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And can you think of any more??
