Stoke City sign defender

Stoke City have officially announced the signing of French defender Eric Bocat from Belgian club Sint-Truiden. The 24-year-old becomes the Potters’ third signing of the summer window and has put pen to paper a four-year-contract.

The official transfer fee wasn’t disclosed, but rumours have it to be around the £1m mark. Stoke have already signed goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and centre-half Ben Gibson in this window, and in Bocat, have added a versatile left-back to their squad.

The 24-year-old started his youth career with Dijon in his native France and had small spells at Stade Brestois and Lille before moving to Belgium in 2020 by joining Mouscron.

He then joined Sint-Truiden in 2022 and played for them in the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons. The club finished 12th in 2022/23 and improved to finish 9th next season. Bocat made 63 appearances across two seasons in his time with the Canaries.

Stoke finished 17th in the Championship last season and will kick off the new league campaign at home against Coventry in August.

Bocat is expected to wear the No.17 jersey at Stoke next season. The shirt was worn by Ki-Jana Hoever- the Dutch defender who was on loan from Wolves, in 23/24.

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