Wednesday 16 August 2017 10:12, UK
Stoke City have signed Jese Rodriguez on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old twice tasted Champions League glory with Real Madrid but has failed to make an impact at the Ligue 1 club, after moving to the French capital in the summer of 2016.
And with Jese now heading to the Potteries, it means Stoke have five Champions League winners in their squad, more than any other English club. Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Bojan and Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona) and Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich) have also won Europe's top club honour.
Jese spent the second half of last season on loan at Las Palmas and, according to Sky Sports Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague: "Jese's progression has stopped in recent years with injuries, and an infection he had while he was recuperating.
"I think he wants to test himself in a place where he will be playing and where he is going to be challenged.
"Four or five years ago, he wanted to win the Ballon d'Or, but those injuries have altered his mentality and physique.
"It's a risk signing him because he needs the love of everybody, but he can play as a centre-forward or a winger, and has talent in abundance.
"I can't wait to see him in the Premier League and see him trying when things don't go his way."
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have completed the £5m transfer of Joselu from Stoke.
Manager Mark Hughes was not prepared to sell the Stuttgart-born German, 27, until Stoke had secured Jese's signature.
