Stoke City Complete Signing Of Wilfried Bony On Season-Long Loan From Manchester City

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Stoke City have officially completed the signing of Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony on a season-long loan, for a fee thought to be in the region of £2m, 90min reports.

The Ivorian joined City for a fee in excess of £25m just 18 months ago from Swansea City after scoring 25 goals in his first season with the Premier League club, but has started just 15 league games for the title-challenging side since his move.

BREAKING | #SCFC delighted to announce the season-long loan signing of @wilfriedbony from @ManCity pic.twitter.com/0I0FO81UDd

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 31, 2016

With Sergio Aguero in place as the club's primary forward and Kelechi Iheanacho passing him in manager Manuel Pellegrini's thoughts last season - with new boss Pep Guardiola appearing to see things the same way as his Chilean predecessor.

West Ham were also interested in bringing Bony to the Olympic Stadium this summer, manager Slaven Bilic saying:

“Bony is a good player. He is an option because he plays in the position where, even before the injuries, we tried to sign a player – he is a centre-forward."

Be prepared, we have an announcement #SCFC pic.twitter.com/9Mn1O2CLnX

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 31, 2016

"I don’t negotiate. I’m just the manager. I just say to the chairmen and [chief scout] Tony Henry, we talk and then they do it.”

Stoke boss Mark Hughes is said to want more signings on deadline day, having overseen Stoke's poor start to the season. Should he find able replacements, he is willing to let defender Philipp Wollscheid and striker Joselu leave as he looks to reshape his squad for the Premier League season.