Stoke City signs Choupo-Moting on free transfer

Stoke City announced Monday the signing of Cameroonian international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, recruiting the winger on a two-year deal on a free transfer out of Schalke 04.

Choupo-Moting joins Darren Fletcher, Kurt Zouma, and Josh Tymon as Stoke's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, and Potters chief executive Tony Scholes was quite enthused to finally end a long pursuit for the 28-year-old.

"Eric has been on our radar for several years and we actually tried to bring him to the club four years ago," Scholes revealed in a club-issued statement. "We are understandably thrilled to have secured his signature and Eric is excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League."

Choupo-Moting has featured in the Bundesliga since joining Hamburger SV for the 2009-10 season. He also enjoyed time at FSV Mainz 05 and Schalke. In total, he has made 200 senior appearances in the German top flight, scoring on 45 occasions, and featured 48 times for Cameroon, notching 13 goals.

He represents yet another player leaving Die Konigsblauen for free, as Joel Matip and Sead Kolasinac joined Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively, without commanding a fee, and Leon Goretzka, whose contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, will likely join Bayern Munich on a free transfer, too.