Tottenham defender Wimmer makes £18m move to Stoke

Stoke have completed the signing of defender Kevin Wimmer from Premier League rivals Tottenham for £18million.

The 24-year-old Austria international has agreed a five-year deal with Mark Hughes’ Potters.

Manager Hughes told the club’s official website: “Kevin is an undoubted talent and he will significantly add to the quality of the group of players that I already have at my disposal.

“We put a real emphasis on trying to enhance the defensive areas of the squad this summer and we feel that we have been able to do that.”

Wimmer becomes Stoke’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window.

He strengthens their defensive options further following the earlier arrivals of Chelsea loanee Kurt Zouma and Porto centre-back Bruno Martins Indi.

Wimmer said the opportunity to work with Hughes was a big factor in his decision to join the club.

“I had some really good conversations with the manager and they were important for me,” he said. “He is a very good manager and I like the way he approaches the game. His style of play suits the way I like to play too – he likes his defenders to be able to play out with the ball.

“I am just so happy to be at Stoke now because I really wanted to come here, to a club with such big tradition, so I feel really good and am very excited about meeting up with everybody and getting ready for the matches ahead.”

Wimmer, who has won eight caps for his country, began his career in his homeland with LASK Linz before moving to Cologne in 2012.

He helped the German side win promotion to the Bundesliga in 2014 and left for White Hart Lane the following year.

The centre-back made 31 appearances during his two seasons under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, including 15 league outings.

His final Tottenham game came in a 4-0 victory over his new club in February.

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said: “He has been in huge demand this summer having shown his qualities in the Premier League during his two years with Tottenham Hotspur, so we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his career here at the bet365 Stadium.”

Wimmer could make his Potters debut in the home game with Manchester United on September 9.