The 8 Stoke City players set to leave as a free agent this summer

Stoke City are likely to lose a number of first-team players soon, with their contracts expiring at the end of the season, and manager Mark Robins will be assessing his options with his out-of-contract players as the club decides who to keep beyond the summer.

Recently hired manager Robins has only had around a month to assess his squad, but he will have to make some major decisions in the coming months as the Potters determine who to stay and who to let go in 2025.

Stoke’s sporting director Jonathan Walters has experience making transfer-related choices, as seen by the departure of key players like Tyrese Campbell earlier this year.

Any Potters player whose contract expires at the end of the season can sign a pre-contract deal with an overseas club right now, with a move scheduled for June after the season ends.

FLW has compiled a list of eight players who are scheduled to leave ST4 next summer, while future decisions by the board and manager remain uncertain.

Lewis Baker

Baker, one of the Potters’ longest-serving players, has struggled this season after being loaned out to Blackburn Rovers in August.

In January 2022, the 29-year-old joined Stoke from Chelsea. During his first year, he quickly became a prominent player under Alex Neil and was appointed captain.

He has fallen out of favour over time, particularly under Steven Schumacher, who sanctioned his season-long loan to Rovers last summer, and his time at the bet365 Stadium appears to be coming to an end.

Mark Robins is currently in charge of the Potters, and he recalled Baker in early January to include him in his teams for the rest of the season, so he will now play out the season in ST4 and try to impress to earn a new contract.

Enda Stevens

Left-back Enda Stevens was poised to depart Stoke in May but accepted a contract extension that would keep him at the club until next summer, after a difficult first season in the Potteries.

He joined the club from Sheffield United last summer on a one-year contract. He was a consistent starter at the start of the season, but sustained a calf injury in December that kept him out until March.

The Republic of Ireland international impressed towards the end of the campaign, prompting the Potters to offer him a new 12-month deal. However, he has been hampered by injuries again in the last few months, and was ousted from the starting lineup by summer signing Eric Bocat before the Frenchman suffered his own serious injury.

Jordan Thompson

Jordan Thompson, a Northern Ireland international midfielder, was set to leave Stoke City at the end of last season. However, the club extended his contract for another year due to his rising impact on Steven Schumacher’s team in 2023/24.

Thompson has been a good utility player for Stoke over the years, primarily playing left-back last season in Stevens’ absence, but has reverted to his customary defensive midfield position this season.

After Campbell’s summer departure, the 27-year-old is the Potters’ current longest-serving player, having made over 150 appearances for the club since arriving in January 2020. However, he will be free to leave in the summer unless he is offered new terms.

Emre Tezgel

Emre Tezgel has been a highly rated junior striker for several years and is only now making his mark in adult football, so his inclusion on this list may surprise many.

He made his first-team debut at 16 years old in 2022, but is now 19 and has fully broken into Stoke’s first-team this season. He has also started to score goals at senior level for the first time in his brief career, out on loan at MK Dons last season.

Stoke should sign him to a new long-term contract as soon as possible, as he is regarded as the club’s future and has the potential to reach the top. However, the England youth international will need more first-team opportunities in the coming months to stay.

Michael Rose

Michael Rose signed a two-year free transfer from Coventry City to Stoke in the summer of 2023.

The 28-year-old was almost always present in his initial season at the bet365 Stadium, making 41 games across all competitions, but an ankle injury in pre-season forced him to miss the start of this season.

He faces stiff competition for a position in the starting XI from Ashley Phillips, Ben Gibson, and Ben Wilmot in the centre-back pecking order, and he is expected to leave in the summer for a fresh challenge.

Lynden Gooch

Lynden Gooch joined Stoke from Sunderland on a two-year contract in 2023, but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Alex Neil and Schumacher in his first season at the bet365 Stadium.

The 28-year-old appeared 30 times in all competitions, scoring twice, and was a very versatile option off the bench, having played as a full-back on both flanks, wing-back on both flanks, and left-wing for the Potters.

He certainly had more game time than expected at the start of the season, but has become more of a rotational option in recent months, and he may be offered a new contract due to his experience and adaptability, which Robins likely sees as a valuable asset.

Jack Bonham

Since joining the Potters from Gillingham in 2021, Jack Bonham has not been a constant starter in goal. However, he has played more than a number two keeper due to injuries, player sales, and loan recalls.

Bonham was signed as a third-choice by Michael O’Neill, but he ended up playing 17 games in all competitions in his first season, 27 in 2022/23, and 16 last season.

He received a contract extension in November to last until next summer. However, he has been behind Viktor Johansson this season and is expected to quit the club after four years.

Frank Fielding

Frank Fielding, a veteran custodian, initially signed a short-term contract with Stoke on a free transfer in December 2021 to cover for injuries. However, he has since signed three contract extensions, the most recent being at the end of last season for another year.

Although he hasn’t played much for the Potters, his 36-year-old experience makes him a valuable resource in the dressing room for younger players seeking guidance.

It’s unclear whether he’ll be offered another contract before his current one expires in June, but if he isn’t, his 17-year career, which has included 364 games for ten different clubs, could be over.

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