Stoke City have today completed the signing of England defender, Jonathan Woodgate. The 31-year-old former Leeds United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur defender has signed a one year contract with the Potters but hopes to extend that stay into a second year if he proves his fitness at the Britannia Stadium. Woodgate has signed on a free transfer after being released by Tottenham Hotspur.
Woodgate has been handed the chance to stay in the Premier League and revive his career that has been beset by injury problems in recent years.
City's Chief Executive Tony Scholes commented, "There is no doubt that we have acquired a player with outstanding quality and experience but he is one who has clearly struggled with injuries over the past two years,"
"However, sometimes a fresh start can trigger a change of fortunes. Jonathan has been working very hard throughout the summer on his fitness so he is desperate to make the most of this opportunity and to play in the Premier League."
Woodgate will link up with his new team-mates later this week when they return from their pre-season training camp in Austria. Woodgate will be reunited with a former Middlesbrough team-mate Robert Huth at Stoke, the pair played together at the heart Middlesbrough's defence when they were in the Premier League five years ago.
Speaking from Stoke's training camp in Austria, manager Tony Pulis said: "The lad is a top class player and it's been well documented that he has had his injury troubles, but we believe that if his fitness is managed properly, he will play games for us. We know that other Premier League clubs were keen on signing Jonathan, so we are delighted he has chosen us. It's a chance we are taking, but one we were keen to take because of the stature and quality of the player." He also added: "We've effectively taken him on a pay-as-you-play deal which just shows how desperate the lad is to get his career back on the right track."
Woodgate enjoyed a successful 5 year spell with Leeds United between the years 1998 and 2003, before moving on to Newcastle United and then had two year stint with Real Madrid.
After returning to the England with his hometown club Middlesbrough, he joined Tottenham in a £7 million deal in January 2008 and was a key figure in the following season when they recovered from a disastrous start to finish eighth in the Premier League. He also scored the winning goal for Spurs, to win their first trophy since 1999, after Spurs beat Chelsea in the 2008 Carling Cup final.
Woodgate has won eight international caps with England, the first of which came back in Kevin Keegan's reign in 1999 while he was at Leeds. His fine form for hometown club Middlesbrough earned him a recall in February 2007.
My Opinion: In my opinion I think that Woodgate is a fantastic signing for the Potters. With his contract being a pay-as-you-play deal, there is no real risk and so its a win - win situation. Woodgate will bring excellent experience to Stoke with his international experience, as well as his club experience with the likes of Tottenham and Real Madrid. If we can keep him fit, I think he will provide fantastic cover, with our European campaign coming up. 
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