Stoke City have completed a deal to sign former Bristol City defender Aden Flint on a one-year deal.
The 32-year-old will join Michael O'Neill's side at the beginning of next month when his contract at Cardiff officially expires. Flint spent three years with the Welsh side making 38 league appearances last season.
Derby County were also interested in signing Flint but the experienced defender has opted to stay in the Championship for at least another year. The Rams' takeover debacle is also likely to have played a part in his final decision.
Speaking of his move to City's Championship rivals, Flint told the club's official channel: “I’m delighted to get it over the line, it’s been in the pipeline for a few weeks now. I obviously spoke to the gaffer while I was holiday, and I’m just delighted to be able to get it done.”
Former City manager Dean Holden and now assistant to O'Neill as Stoke admitted the club had been monitoring Flint for several transfer windows. He added: "We are delighted to get him through the doors.
“He’s a player who has been mentioned over the last couple of transfer windows, so to get it over the line and sorted in time for pre-season we are really pleased.”
Flint spent five memorable years at Ashton Gate, helping win the double in the 2014/15 season having scored a remarkable 15 goals throughout the course of the campaign before joining Middlesbrough in 2018.
The signing could have a knock-on effect on whether Stoke continue their pursuit of Tomas Kalas, as per reports from the Mail on Sunday. Speculation suggested O'Neill was considering City's Czech Republic international as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Stoke have been left short of centre-back options after Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed back to parent club Manchester City, Liam Moore returned to Reading and James Chester left on a free transfer. If Connor Taylor is sent back out on loan, where he enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Bristol Rovers last season, Stoke could still be left short of options especially with Phil Jagielka turning 40 on his next birthday.
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