Breaking: Transfer confirmed as Stoke City fail to convince player to stay
Latest Stoke City transfer news from StokeonTrentLive as winger moves to Italian side for undisclosed fee
Stoke City have confirmed the departure of Mehdi Léris to Italian Serie B side Pisa after a failed attempt to convince him to stay at the bet365 Stadium.
The Algeria international winger joined the Potters from Sampdoria last summer, scoring twice in 18 Championship starts.
The club had been keen to keep Léris, who has an Italian wife, but had to admit defeat when the 26-year-old pushed for the move. A permanent transfer has been agreed with Pisa for an undisclosed fee.
Sporting Director Jonathan Walters explained: “Towards the end of last season, Mehdi’s match minutes were limited, and early this summer he expressed his desire to move on in search of more regular game time.
“While we tried to convince him to stay, Mehdi ultimately decided that he wanted to pursue a new opportunity and we have now reached an agreement with Pisa for his return to Italy.”
Stoke boss Steven Schumacher had been using Léris, who missed Saturday’s opening-day victory over Coventry City, in a defensive role in pre-season as an alternative to Lynden Gooch and Junior Tchamadeu.
He explained earlier in the summer: “He is physically different to Lynden and Junior, who play in the right-back position, and gives us height and strength and that aerial presence that we might need throughout the season.
“Mehdi is someone who has played there before, he’s played there over in Italy and he’s played as a wing-back as well.
“I’ve said to him that in this system, playing as a full-back is slightly different, but he’s got great energy, he can run all day, he’s good in the air, and when he gets opportunities to cross the ball, he puts good deliveries in as well.”
