Stoke have announced the arrival of Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods on loan until January.
Woods has not featured in the league this season as he was widely expected to join Swansea.
A deal between Swansea and Brentford broke down and now Stoke have swooped to sign the 24-year-old.
The transfer window for English clubs shut at the start of the month but Football League clubs are still able to sign free agents and get players in on loan.
The Potters have agreed to loan Woods until January when they will then make his switch permanent in a £6.5m deal when the transfer window re-opens.
“It’s been a long few weeks but the deal is over the line now and I am really excited to get going,” he told the club’s official website.
“There is an incredible amount of talent here, so as soon as things start clicking on the pitch then the better it will be for everyone and we can start moving in the right direction.
“The Championship is a really though league but I am sure that results will soon start turning, and hopefully I can be part of helping that to happen.
“I am delighted to be a Stoke City player and can’t wait to get back down to work and get back on the field.”
Stoke have made a disasterous start to the season when many thought they would walk the league and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Gary Rowett's side climbed out of the the bottom three with their first win of the season at the weekend and Stoke will hope Woods can provide a further boost going forward.
Woods has been an integral player for Brentford in the three seasons prior to the current campaign. The talented midfielder started 115 of the Bees' last 138 league matches during that time, garnering a WhoScored rating of 6.77 in the process.
