Eidur eyes first-team chance

Gudjohnsen: Wants first-team chance

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New Stoke signing Eidur Gudjohnsen is looking forward to making an impact at the club and breaking into the first team, after revealing he had a number of options before deciding on the move.

The 31-year-old striker agreed a one-year deal with the Potters on transfer deadline day, moving from Monaco and joining his fourth Premier League side after previous spells at Bolton, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Iceland international Gudjohnsen, formerly of Barcelona, revealed that he had other options, with Fulham thought to be interested in his signature, but Stoke persuaded him to move to the Britannia Stadium.

The cool finisher has praised the club's ambition, and hopes to make a mark on the first team sooner rather than later.

"They showed a big interest in bringing me to the club," he told Sky Sports. "People knew about my situation in Monaco, that I was looking to leave, and they were happy for me to find a new club.

"I had many options from all over the world really and it all went down to the last minute. I made a decision to sign here and I fully intend to make the best of it.

"Basically Stoke persuaded me to come here. I just wanted to play football.

"When I came back last year to the Premiership I realised that it's the place that I want to be, it's the league that I want to play in, it's the most exciting league in world football in my opinion.

"I think I've got a great chance here of playing regular first-team football.

"They're showing a lot of ambition. They've signed a few players already this summer. I think the last two seasons they've come 11th and 12th in the league, so with my experience I hope to cement their place as a proper Premier League team and a team to be reckoned with.

"Not many teams like to come here and play, it's not an easy place to come and get points. I hope to add that little bit of quality and experience to that."

Boat-watching

When asked what his reasons were behind the move, Gudjohnsen added: "Pure football. I could have easily sat on my contract in Monaco and enjoyed the nice weather and looked at the beautiful boats but in the end football is what matters most to me and that's why I took this decision - a very easy one in that perspective."

Initial reports suggested the forward had moved to Stoke on a season-long loan from Monaco, but it emerged on Wednesday that he had in fact penned a permanent deal.

"I think it virtually comes to the same 12 month deal, whether it is a loan or permanent," Gudjohnsen remarked. "I'm here for the season and I intend to do my best and help the team as much as I can."

Stoke later confirmed the permanent deal, with manager Tony Pulis telling the club's official website: "The fact that Eidur is now our player makes this an even better piece of transfer business for this football club.

"The lad desperately wanted to come back and play in the Premier League and he is eager to make his mark at this level again, so he now has an excellent opportunity to achieve that ambition here and help the club move forward."