Stoke sign Scotland striker Hirst from Ipswich

Stoke City have signed striker George Hirst from Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee on a deal until at least the end of the 2028-29 season. Scotland international Hirst, 27, has been with the Tractor Boys for the last three seasons, winning two promotions, and scored 23 times in 102 games after joining from Leicester City. Eleven of his 21 league goals came last season, helping Ipswich seal automatic promotion to the Premier League, after his previous year in the top flight was hampered by a knee injury. Hirst, who has also had loan spells with Rotherham, Portsmouth and Blackburn, had been linked with a move to Stoke for several days with reports of a £10m deal. He has now signed a three-year contract at the bet365 Stadium, with a further 12-month option in the club's favour. Hirst's arrival brings the number of new signings at Stoke this summer to six as the club continues its investment in the squad with the aim of a sustained challenge for promotion, eight years after relegation from the Premier League. "We identified George as a target some time ago. He has a proven track record of scoring goals in this division and knows what it takes to be successful," Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said. All done deals in August 2026 Hirst said he was "here to score goals" and added he felt moving to Stoke would improve his game. "Everyone wants to be somewhere that is going to help make them a better player and somewhere they feel they can help," he said. "I feel like this is both of those things for me." Hirst joins Ethan Galbraith, Svante Ingelsson, Djibril Soumare, Luke Graham, Josh Griffiths and Milan Smit at the Potters for this season and is set for his debut at Southampton on Saturday. Latest Stoke City news, analysis and fan views