Top Stories

Agudelo signs with Stoke, loan deal looming

JuanAgudelo (ISIPhotos)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Juan Agudelo might not be suiting up for Stoke City any time in the immediate future, but that has not stopped the free agent forward from signing a deal with the club.

Agudelo announced via his social networks on Tuesday that he has agreed to terms with Stoke despite not being able to play for the Premiership side in the near future because of his inability to secure a work permit in England. Agudelo also stated that a six-month loan is in store for him, but he gave no details as to where he will go.

Agudelo becomes the fourth American currently on the books at Stoke, though Brek Shea is currently on loan at Barnsley and Maurice Edu could be moving in the near future as he searches for more playing time. Geoff Cameron is the other American on the Potters’ roster.

The 21-year-old forward, who last played for the New England Revolution in MLS, has been courted by Stoke for some time and initially planned to join the club earlier in the winter transfer window. Agudelo, however, was denied a work permit in November, which left plenty of uncertainty regarding his club future.

Still, Stoke appear convinced that they will sort that out in the not-too-distant future.

Agudelo  had a solid 2013 at the club level. He started the year with Chivas USA before being traded to New England and helping the Revolution reach the playoffs. He scored nine goals and had two assists in 20 combined matches for the two clubs.

—–

What do you think of Agudelo signing with Stoke City? Do you see him playing a match for the club before this year ends? What league/team would you like to see him loaned out to?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Is Stoke wanting him just to farm him out? Agudelo is hopping around too much. He needs to stick with some team some time soon because at some point he needs to prove that he can actually help a team win games.

    Reply
  2. I am a Red Bulls fan. While he is prone to occassional brilliant moments, Juan is also prone to bonehead plays & a lack of hustle. I have never been all that impressed with him.

    Reply
    • Doesn’t this description fit a lot of strikers? If you were to describe somebody like Zlatan Ibrahimovich wouldn’t you also use such terms as “brilliant moments,” “boneheaded plays” and “lack of hustle”?

      Reply
  3. Latest rumor is Gooch’s old club, Standard Liege is the leader with FC Twente also in on the bidding. Would love to see him land with Twente. May have to fight for time, but a great club and league to learn his trade.

    Reply
  4. Up to this point, I have never been impressed with Agudelo and am baffled by those who keep touting him for USMNT call-ups. I am in complete agreement with Klinsmann that Agudelo has not done anything to merit call-ups (and, no, I am not implying that Agudelo was talking to a certain reporter last February). That said, I am glad to see that the Stoke deal is still on and would love to see Agudelo do well on his loan and then move back to Stoke and succeed.

    That said, the chances of Agudelo being called up for WC 2014 are just about zero. Not saying impossible, but for Agudelo to catapult past Herc Gomez, or even Wondow or Boyd, Agudelo would have to play like Messi for the next three months and I don’t see that happening. Agudelo’s prime goal now should be making the Stoke roster in August and then WC 2018.

    Reply
    • Size, strength, speed, technique, work rate, good in the air too. What’s not impressive other than his maturity, consistency and spotty injury history? Huge potential. He may never reach it, but huge potential. As big as any player his age or younger.

      Reply
    • He’s got plenty of positive qualities in his game. I think part of his problem is that he is more of a gamer than a training guy. He will need a lot of minutes on good faith to get his confidence up, but in my personal opinion, he and Johannsson are our two most promising young forwards.

      Reply
    • I don’t think Agudelo requires much of a boost to enter into discussions for a WC spot in 2014. At the moment there are only 2 Striker Spots that are likely locks (Jozy & AJ). After that there is a bit of a log jam of players who have a chance, but are not what anyone would consider complete players:
      EJ – Fast & Good in the air, but worthless as a wide player.
      Boyd – Likely the backup to Jozy as a Target striker, but limited experience.
      Gomez – Good out wide getting behind the D. Good poacher too, but has had injuries and been out of the picture for a while. Will need to be at his best over the next 5 months.
      Wondo – Poacher & JK likes him, but he’s not worth taking IMO (slow of foot & mind).

      Agudelo – Can play wide, withdrawn, or as a target man. Good speed & size. Can take players on 1 v 1, As technically sound as any of the above mentioned in the Log Jam.
      What he lacks is consistancy….If he gets consistan while on loan would take him before Gomez & Wondo in a heartbeat. Would than be a coin fip with EJ, Boyd & Agudelo.

      Reply
    • Agudelo is a talented 21-year old striker – he could be broght in as a young promissing player without too much pressure on him to perform- his primary competition is Boyd. Now, if Klinsi manages to entice Julian Green to go to Brazil, then Agudelo (unless he starts putting together amazing performances in Europe) does not stand much of a chance to go. As for Wondo and Herc, they will be 31 and 32 respectively – I think that they will stay put, losing their competiton to Jozy, Aaron, and EJ.

      Reply
  5. When he didn’t get his work permit, I thought this was the best option for both him and Stoke. Glad to see it is coming to pass. I think Holland would be a good place for him for several reasons. First, it’s an offensive, attack minded league which regularly prepares players for top 4 leagues, and second, everyone there speaks English.

    Reply
  6. Please send him to Espana or Holland. Juplier league in Belgium would not be bad either. You guys think any teams in Portugal or even Turkey could use him now?

    Reply
  7. YES!!!!

    I am so happy for him. I don’t really know if he will have success in the Prem but this move is great for him. He should see playing time and if he can live up to some of the discussion around him (I don’t want to call it hype) then he could be another option for striker for the USMNT.

    All in all, it’s great to have more Americans playing overseas.

    I hope for the best but prepare for the worst, yet I have a good feeling about this move.

    GET SOME JUAN!!!! 😀

    Reply
  8. A stint in Holland could do him wonders and may send him into WC contention if he excels.
    I think he will rot on the bench at Stoke if he doesn’t find a loan after next year.

    Reply
    • I almost feel that it would be ideal if he gets loaned out to a club in Spain or Holland, and then they like him enough to buy him outright. If he doesn’t make the WC squad, I’m not sure how he would get a work permit for the EPL next year anyhow.

      Reply
      • That’s why Belgium & Spain are likely destinations. 2 years in either and he can probably qualify for an EU passport. Will be tough if he doesn’t make WC squad (or at least heavy appearances after) or tear up the league he is in.

    • it sounds like any of his loan options could seriously put him into the WC conversation. he’ll certainly have to prove himself, but Stoke isn’t going to send him to a team that may not even play him.

      as for when he gets back, Stoke has gone through too much to not at least give him a legit chance. so if he ends up rotting on the bench, my guess is it would be his own fault.

      Reply
  9. I saw Agudelo was linked with Kljestian’s club Anderlecht somewhere but I don’t know if that was true or not, and Maurice Edu also may sign with Philadelphia Union, I’m hear.

    Reply
  10. today i have yet to get any work done because so much is happening! surprised it’s not mentioned in here, but TT reporting that Agudelo will either go on loan to the Eredivisie, La Liga, or Jupiler.

    Reply
    • Stoke Sentinel reporting:

      “Agudelo has generated interest in Holland, Belgium and Spain, with offers coming in from Valencia and Anderlecht on loan.”

      Reply
      • Yeah, Seltzer said the likely landing place is a big Dutch or Belgian club. PSV would be awesome. Also reports that AZ was offered but declined.

      • He would rot at Valencia. He might sit at Anderlecht. Quit Adu-ing him. He needs a reasonable destination where he is likely to play. His career is not going to improve if he replaces going through the motions in MLS to bench fodder in Europe.

        Somewhere in Scandinavia/Holland.

      • I didn’t come up with the rumor. Valencia would be a risky move for him for sure. personally, i’d prefer him to go to Holland too.

    • If Stoke has no first team interest in you and is loaning you right out to OTHER EUROPEAN DESTINATION, why not cut out the middleman and sign for OTHER EUROPEAN DESTINATION? I could understand this kind of compromise to be a ManU or Arsenal signee, but Stoke? And isn’t Edu already the cautionary tale for this precise scenario he’s repeating?

      Also, let’s be real, presumably one reason he’s off to Europe on loan is he is no more likely to get a work permit for Stoke right now than he was for Celtic a few weeks ago. Stoke is buying time.

      Reply
      • well, according to Agudelo, Stoke has shown they completely believe in him and actually want him. i absolutely see your point but Agudelo felt otherwise. as for comparing him to Edu, sure, i guess it could go bad. or it could go like Cameron.

        and yes, it’s well known the reason he is going on loan is in hopes of getting the work permit in 6 months. that was the point.

      • It’s also possible that the pre-contract was an enforceable one on Stoke & Agudelo wasn’t ready to let them out of it. According to FIFA, if the pre-contract is really a contract (all the terms in place), then you can’t back out because of WP or physical issues (unless both parties want to). I think JA shopped himself around and didn’t find a deal good enough to justify letting Stoke get out of it.

  11. BREAKING NEWS:

    New England paying Stoke $8 million transfer for Agudelo and a $4 million per year salary.

    “we are thrilled to bring Juan back to the organization and MLS. Adding a player with the experience of signing with an EPL team, such as Juan, will enable us to succeed on and off the field.”

    Reply
  12. And to think they had beautiful, plush grass when that stadium opened but one muddy day for the patriots and the next week, it was all gone and replaced with friggin turf

    Reply
    • I remember that there was a concert at Gillette that week. Then the rain happened. So after the Pats played and were beaten by a much weaker team (Miami, I think) they quickly converted to Field Turf in the middle of the season.

      Reply
  13. Is the turf so bad in New England that he plays in those turf shoes? No cleats! I knew it was bad didn’t think it was that bad.

    Reply

Leave a Comment