Former Rangers midfielder Jordan Thompson has moved from EFL League One to the Championship by signing for Stoke City from Blackpool for an undisclosed fee [Stokecityfc.com].
The 23-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal and links up with his international manager, Michael O’Neill, at the Potters.
The signing is Stoke’s first of the January Transfer Window and comes after Thompson made over 50 league appearances in two years at Blackpool.
“Jordan is obviously a player who I know well – a young player with a lot of potential,” said O’Neill, as quoted by Stokecityfc.com. “I believe he has the attributes to add to the team and the ability certainly to play at Championship level and above. It’s good to be able to give him the opportunity.”
“He’s a very talented left-footed player. I think in the last 18 months, in particular, he has added a lot to his game, especially defensively and he has a bit of bite as well.”
Verdict
This is an impressive move for Thompson, who will step up a division to join an ailing but big Championship club.
Currently just one place and one point above the relegation zone, Stoke will be looking to pull away to safety over the second half of the season, and O’Neill clearly sees the Belfast-born midfielder as a player who can make a big impact to that end.
It speaks of good progression from the 23-year-old, who joined Rangers in 2015 but failed to really make the grade at Ibrox.
He made two league appearances but was shipped out on loan to Airdriedonians, Raith Rovers and Livingston during his three-year stay, before finally being released in 2018 and heading to England.
It will be interesting to see how he copes with the rigours of the second-tier, over the coming months.
