Yahoo News Stoke City confirm retained list with decisions over Tom Edwards and D'Margio Wright-Phillips
Tom Edwards and D'Margio Wright-Phillips are leaving Stoke City as this summer's retained list is confirmed in full.
Edwards, now aged 25, has been with the club for 16 years, and as he was breaking into the first team over a couple of years from 2017 there were hopes he could nail down the right-back spot for a decade. He was named Stanley Matthews Footballer of the Year in 2019 but couldn't build on that promise and instead had loan spells at Fleetwood Town, New York Red Bulls, Barnsley and Huddersfield, where he has spent the whole of the season just finished.
He spent part of pre-season back at Clayton Wood last summer but has not played for Stoke in the league since December 2019, two months after he penned a long-term contract at the club. He made 13 appearances for Huddersfield.
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Wright-Phillips, the 22-year-old grandson of Ian Wright and son of Shaun Wright-Phillips, joined Stoke's under-21s from Manchester City in early 2021 in the hope of a clearer pathway to the first team.
He made his professional debut a year later and showed his promise in the Championship over the following few months under Michael O'Neill. He was not part of the plans under O'Neill's successor Alex Neil, however, and was sent out on loan to Northampton Town then Germinal Beerschot, who he has just helped win promotion to the Belgian top flight.
Stoke have offered new contracts to centre-back pair Matthew Baker, aged 21, and David Okagbue, aged 20, who have just reported back from League Two loans with Newport County and Walsall respectively. Playmaker Jack Griffiths, aged 18, is also in talks about a new deal.
Midfielder Tom Sparrow and keeper Blondy Nna Noukeu have already confirmed their departures, while under-21s players Ben Kershaw, Kahrel Reddin, Sonny Singh, Tom Curl and Ian Kamga are being released.
There are first pro contracts on the table in the under-18s age group for Dean Adekoya, Josh Bickerton, Jake Griffin, Christy Grogan, Jaden Mears and Will Smith while Adam Watson, the New Zealand youth striker and son of former long-serving physio Dave Watson, has been given the chance to extend his scholarship into a third year.
Sporting director Jonathan Walters said: “When a young player is offered an opportunity to commence or continue their professional career at a club like ours, it is always a proud moment for them and their families. My congratulations go to each of them, as do my thanks to our academy coaches and staff for their work in developing the homegrown talent that’s so important to our future.
“Three of the departing players – Tom Edwards, Tom Sparrow and D’Margio Wright-Phillips – graduated to play first team football during their time with the club and that in itself is a significant landmark in a player’s journey.
“In Tom, we are parting ways with a player who has experienced our pathway in its entirety, having joined as a nine-year-old and earned the honour of featuring for Stoke City on 51 occasions. We are proud of those achievements and are thankful to Tom and his family for the effort and dedication that has gone into his time here. I’m looking forward to seeing what he will go on to achieve in the future.
“I hope all those who are departing do so having learned a lot from their time with the club and with every opportunity of enjoying success in their footballing careers.”
Stoke have already announced the status of players who have been around the first team this season. Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark and Wesley are leaving while a one-year extension was triggered for Jordan Thompson. Enda Stevens and Frank Fielding have agreed new 12-month deals.
Viktor Johansson has been announced as a first signing for 2024/25. The 25-year-old goalkeeper will join from Rotherham after Stoke triggered a relegation release clause.
