Stoke City Confirm Bojan Krkic Arrival from Barcelona

Stoke City have confirmed the signing of Barcelona winger Bojan Krkic for an undisclosed fee. The Spanish international has signed a four-year contract with the club.

Krkic is a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy. He was prolific playing for the Catalan side's youth team, and made his senior team debut aged 17.

With playing time hard to come by at the Camp Nou, he moved to AS Roma at the start of the 2011 campaign. He played there for a season before being loaned out to AC Milan and after spending a season in Italy, he re-signed with Barcelona in 2013.

However, he failed to make an appearance in the first team. Bojan was subsequently loaned out and spent the 2013-14 season with Eredivisie champions Ajax.

The 23-year-old winger became the Potters' fifth signing of the summer, following the arrival of Mame Biram Diouf, Steve Sidwell, Phil Bardsley and Dionatan Teixeira.

City chief executive Tony Scholes is excited by the capture of such a talented player, especially as they beat a few other clubs to land the Barcelona winger's signature.

"We are delighted to have signed such a richly talented and exciting player, who is still only 23," Scholes told City's official site.

"A number of other clubs had expressed an interest in him but Bojan believes joining Stoke City will benefit his career and we have no doubts he will prove to be a wonderful addition to our squad."

"The signing of Bojan, along with the other players we have recruited ahead of the new season, underlines the progress we are making as a Club."

Earlier in the summer, Liverpool and Arsenal were linked with moves for the Spanish winger; therefore it will be a significant coup for the Britannia Stadium outfit to have landed the forward.

Manager Mark Hughes feels that Bojan is a great signing for the club, as he is an experienced forward with European pedigree. He also believes that the Spanish forward is 'desperate to prove himself' in England, which will be an added benefit for the club.

"Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting and an endorsement of the Club itself," Hughes added.

"He's desperate to prove himself in the Premier League and we're pleased to be able to offer him that platform."

"The time he spends with the squad in Germany will help him settle in and will give myself and the coaches the chance to take a good look at him," the former Manchester City boss explained.

Bojan's settling down period should go rather smoothly and he can look towards former Barcelona colleague Marc Muniesa for help as he has already spent a year at the Britannia Stadium.