Soccer-Stoke bring in ex-Liverpool defender Johnson

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Stoke City have completed the signing of former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson on a two-year contract, the Premier League side announced on Sunday. The 30-year-old right back, who picked up 54 England caps, was released by Liverpool following six years at Anfield where he had arrived for a fee of 17.5 million pounds ($27.1 million) from Portsmouth. Johnson also represented West Ham United and Chelsea and has made almost 400 club appearances following his Hammers debut in 2002. "Glen will be a fantastic addition to our squad," manager Mark Hughes told the club's official website (www.stokecityfc.com). "He commanded a huge transfer fee when he left Portsmouth for Liverpool but dealt with the pressure that comes with that. "He's a talented defender who also chips in with goals - as we discovered last season when he scored the winner against us at Anfield - and having spoken to him I know how much he's looking forward to being a Stoke player." Johnson, whose England and Liverpool career fizzled out after poor form, becomes Stoke's sixth recruit of the close-season following the arrivals of Philipp Wollscheid, Jakob Haugaard, Joselu, Marco van Ginkel and Shay Given. Stoke finished ninth in the Premier League last season. (Reporting By Tom Hayward; Editing by Mark Meadows; mark.meadows@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; Reuters Messaging:; mark.meadows.reuters.com@reuters.net)