Late yesterday evening Stoke City confirmed that Everton centre-half and Welsh international captain Ashley Williams had signed on the dotted line and joined us on a loan deal for the season of 2018/19.
Stoke City are delighted to announce the signing of defender Ashley Williams on a season-long loan from @Everton
👉 https://t.co/9c8vIE6up6#SCFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/OOs10tWqaq
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 2, 2018
The 33-year-old becomes manager Gary Rowett’s sixth signing of the summer and whilst it might not be the Welshman many were expecting, a poor spell at Goodison Park hasn’t turned him into a poor defender and I expect he’ll play a huge part for us as we look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking following last terms relegation.
As the news was announced, Williams revealed that a solid conversation with international, and former Swansea City colleague, Joe Allen had more than helped him make the decision, especially as he knew the midfielder had contracted up for longer at the club despite dropping into the second tier, so he felt it was a good place to be.
Speaking to the Official Website he explained.
“Joe is one of my best friends, we speak most days and the fact that he’s a Stoke player was one of the reasons why I wanted to come here. We’ve spoken a lot over the last couple of days and he’s told me all about the Club and how it works and what I can expect. Joe’s decision to sign a new contract earlier this summer was obviously a big thing for the Club and it showed how serious Stoke are about getting back into the Premier League. To keep a player like Joe Allen, who in my opinion is one of the best midfielders in the country, is a sign that the Club is looking to go back in the right direction and that was a big factor in me joining Stoke.”
Despite some bitter words coming from disgruntled Everton fans, plenty have welcomed his arrival and some opposition fans had good words to say about the deal, despite the fact it improves us.
You speak sense Jordan ????????
— Wayne Adams (@adamswayne83) August 2, 2018
Urgh don’t. I don’t like it when other teams predict good things for us. We need to be hated and for people to tell us we’re s**t.
— Nicholas Johnson (@NichJohn1991) August 2, 2018
He looks ard
— George ???? (@StokeGeorge) August 2, 2018
Not many transfers please both sets of supporters, but the transfer of Ashley Williams definitely does this!
— Neil McDonald (@neilamcdonald) August 2, 2018
Good signing this one @bonnystmarket
— roy wade (@wadeo123) August 2, 2018
Good signing for the Championship
— Savvy (@Cheqraise1) August 2, 2018
Think he’s a good signing for us tbh. Think people forget we are a championship club now and he can do a job in that league.Anything is an improvement on useless wimmer who cost us 18 million!
— Leigh Spooner (@leighspooner1) August 2, 2018
We actually have cover for CB. As in. Proper cover. pic.twitter.com/AtU6KOS4LW
— ???? Geeby Yu ???? (@GeebyYu) August 2, 2018
If Terry could still make it in that league, Williams should make a fist of it…..
— Gary Hankin (@garyhankin) August 2, 2018
It's good business for a season, he's championship standard and can thrive there. Good move Stoke
— Jonathan Egan (@jonathan_egan) August 2, 2018
Fantastic… good luck, Always liked Stoke.
— Paul (@goodysonx74) August 2, 2018
Can be no excuses this season with the squad we’ve got minimum play offs anything less and it’s a disaster
— Gary (@Moody4Life_) August 2, 2018
