Breaking: Stoke City confirm striker as Mark Robins' second January transfer signing
Ali Al-Hamadi is Stoke City's new number nine as he joins on loan until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old striker has been brought in from Ipswich Town to fill a hole left by 11-goal Tom Cannon, who was recalled by Leicester last week to be sold on to Sheffield United for about £10 million.
He has spent the last 12 months at Portman Road following a prolific breakthrough spell at AFC Wimbledon. The Iraq international helped win promotion to the Premier League with some key goals and has been used from the bench in the top flight.
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There has been strong interest from the Championship and a move to West Brom fell through at the 11th hour as Stoke swooped to make their second signing of January. Left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand has joined on loan from Manchester City, making his debut in mid-week at Portsmouth while Nathan Lowe and Lewis Baker have been recalled from loans to join Mark Robins' squad.
Sporting director Jon Walters, who had been to Ipswich a couple of weeks go to check on Al-Hamadi, said: “Strikers of real pedigree are one of the hardest commodities to secure in any transfer window, so to get Ali over the line is a significant boost for us all.
“We know there has been significant interest from other clubs and are delighted he has opted to join Stoke City.
“Ali’s goalscoring record speaks for itself, but it’s his relentless hard-working approach that truly epitomises what we stand for as a club.
“We have no doubt that our fans will take to Ali, and we wish him every success in a Stoke City shirt.”
Stoke, who have nine players currently out injured, are keen to continue to bolster their squad before deadline day on February 3 and they have been linked this evening with interest in Bristol City utility man Mark Sykes, who is at his best on the right wing.
The Potters are in action on Saturday with a home match against Oxford United (12.30pm).
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