Former Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay has joined Stoke City on a two-year deal following the June expiration of his contract at the Camp Nou.   

A product of the PSV Eindhoven youth system, Dutchman Afellay failed to nail down a first-team spot at Barca, and was released by the La Liga giants earlier this summer after four-and-a-half years with the club.

He has spent time on loan at Olympiacos and Schalke in recent seasons but was confirmed as Stoke’s latest signing on Monday.

The 29-year-old Afellay’s arrival at the Britannia Stadium will no doubt excite Stoke fans enormously as he could provide flair not usually associated with the Potters, per uMAXit Football:

However, his arrival continues a trend at Stoke started by manager Mark Hughes of bringing in exciting attacking talents—Marko Arnautovic arrived in 2013 and Bojan Krkic last summer.

Afellay can provide great penetration going forward while his distribution is also excellent. Having failed in their ambitious attempts to sign Inter Milan‘s Xherdan Shaqiri earlier this summer, Afellay is a fine alternative option for Stoke, per the Guardian. 

The Potters finished the 2014-15 season with their highest-ever points tally in the Premier League—54—and closed the term with a 6-1 final-day drubbing of Liverpool.

Afellay’s arrival signals Stoke’s intent to be even better in the upcoming season, as he is a La Liga and Champions League winner and four-time Eredivisie champion.

The Dutch international has had troubles with injuries over his career, but if he can stay fit, he could be a very shrewd signing from the Potters. 

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