Dwight Gayle: Stoke City sign Newcastle United striker on two-year deal - and recruit John O'Shea as coach - BBC Sport
Close menu

Dwight Gayle: Stoke City sign Newcastle United striker on two-year deal - and recruit John O'Shea as coach

Last updated on .From the section Stokecomments120

Dwight Gayle
Dwight Gayle has scored 121 league goals during his career

Stoke City have signed striker Dwight Gayle from Newcastle United on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old scored 34 goals in 122 games for the Magpies after joining from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2016 in a deal worth a reported £10m.

He is Stoke's sixth signing of the summer but the two clubs have not disclosed whether a fee is involved.

The Potters have also appointed former Manchester United defender John O'Shea, 41, as first-team coach.

The 118-times capped Republic of Ireland international is currently assistant manager of his country's Under-21s, having spent two years in a similar role with Stoke's fellow Championship side Reading.

"I think he will bring a great deal to us," said Stoke boss Michael O'Neill. "In coaching you bring your standards as a player and I think everyone knows John O'Shea had extremely high standards as a player."

'I heard everything I wanted to hear' - Gayle

As for Gayle, he follows Josh Laurent, Aden Flint, Gavin Kilkenny, Harry Clarke and Liam McCarron in moving to the Potteries ahead of Stoke's Championship opener at Millwall on 30 July.

"For me it was about finding a club that was right for me," said Gayle, whose goals fired West Bromwich Albion to the Championship play-offs three years ago.

"After speaking to the gaffer and the coaches I heard everything I wanted to hear."

Gayle first began to attract attention after joining Peterborough United in 2012, initially on loan.

He was signed by Crystal Palace the following summer, making his name with two of the late goals that helped to derail Liverpool's title bid in 2014 as Palace came from 3-0 down to draw at Selhurst Park.

He played for Palace in the 2016 FA Cup final against Manchester United, when they lost 2-1 after extra time,

Gayle was Newcastle's leading scorer when they won promotion to the Premier League in 2017, but only made nine appearances last season, having spent 2018-19 on loan at The Hawthorns, scoring 23 goals in 39 Championship appearances.

"Dwight's track record, particularly in the Championship, is exceptional," added O'Neill. "There were a number of clubs chasing him so we're really delighted he has chosen to join us."

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Around the BBC - SoundsAround the BBC footer - Sounds

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

120 comments

  • Comment posted by groundhog44, at 15:30 22 Jul 2022

    Good signing for Stoke and despite being a little older now will still get you goals in the Championship. Thank you for the service Dwight from a Newcastle supporter.

  • Comment posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 15:37 22 Jul 2022

    What a pro! Just keeps on motoring. I respect players that just keep turning up and make the most of it. Earning a good living is what most aspire to, not everyone can be a superstar, these players are what football leagues are built on.

    • Reply posted by rollyp, at 17:05 22 Jul 2022

      rollyp replied:
      He was sat on the bench most of the last three seasons on premier wages, even though having chances to move on.

  • Comment posted by GToon, at 15:22 22 Jul 2022

    Good luck. Always gave his best for us. Unlucky with injuries and unlucky with our previous manager. Hope he does well with Stoke.

  • Comment posted by Luke, at 15:24 22 Jul 2022

    Was expecting Newcastle to have a much bigger clear out summer but they've spent well and haven't gone mental like city when they had all that money come in.

    • Reply posted by Jimmy E, at 15:53 22 Jul 2022

      Jimmy E replied:
      Due to the previous ownership we have championship standard players on top half premier league wages because it was cheaper than replacing them.

  • Comment posted by mad_dan, at 15:23 22 Jul 2022

    Wish the lad all the best and he gets my thanks. Canny addition for Stoke.

  • Comment posted by suzanne, at 18:27 22 Jul 2022

    Brilliant championship striker if he can find his form again good luck gayle and Stoke City from nufc

  • Comment posted by Texjohn, at 15:44 22 Jul 2022

    Good luck to Dwight, never forget the hat trick against Norwich, kick started that season. I am certain he will score goals for Stoke, still got pace despite his age.

  • Comment posted by Consett Mag, at 18:13 22 Jul 2022

    Good luck to to Dwight Gale and Stoke. He scored the goals that helped Newcastle win the Championship. He was phenomenal that year and was brilliant as a Newcastle striker. Thanks for his input as a goalscorer - long may he achieve for the rest of his career.

  • Comment posted by Just john, at 15:29 22 Jul 2022

    Solid striker in the lower leagues ,a fit athletic player who will do well at Stoke , good luck to him .sadly Steve Bruce did not like him much . Some more fringe players to go from Newcastle no doubt

  • Comment posted by Delilah72, at 16:51 22 Jul 2022

    Another footballer with ability and experience - if he gets the games and the supply the back of the net will bulge...don’t right him off at this level. Good signing with FFP constraints.

  • Comment posted by okokok, at 16:23 22 Jul 2022

    He was always a very good Championship standard player. Given the correct service he'll score goals. If he does the job then it's a good move by the club.

    • Reply posted by Gripper Burke, at 16:44 22 Jul 2022

      Gripper Burke replied:
      Has a good goals to games ratio at Championship level. Could turn out to be a good signing.
      I wish him luck, just not against the mighty PNE.

  • Comment posted by samjulie, at 15:22 22 Jul 2022

    Journeymen, but solid little striker, could get you 10 odd goals a season.
    Newcastle clearing the decks, wages of the accounting books. Good deal for them.

    • Reply posted by Jimmy E, at 15:54 22 Jul 2022

      Jimmy E replied:
      I think Stoke will be hoping for a lot more than 10!

  • Comment posted by downroverdown, at 17:23 22 Jul 2022

    Good luck! Better to be really wanted by a team than a bystander at a Premier League side.

  • Comment posted by Oatcake, at 15:32 22 Jul 2022

    I think this is a good signing for Stoke , has to be some extra points in the promotion charts ..

  • Comment posted by Johnny99, at 16:42 22 Jul 2022

    He did well for us in our promotion season.
    Give him the service and he'll score lots of goals for Stoke in the Championship.

  • Comment posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 21:37 22 Jul 2022

    He was a very very good player once,criminaly overlooked wherever he's been.I have always rated his natural finishing.

    • Reply posted by budthepolicehorse, at 23:38 22 Jul 2022

      budthepolicehorse replied:
      The key word being, “WAS”

  • Comment posted by TwistedNerve, at 18:09 22 Jul 2022

    to have a ratio of 1 goal every 4 games-ish isn't too bad, but when you've only played around 3600 minutes over those games, it's just over a game per goal, which anyone would be proud of

    never understood why NUFC didn't play him, regardless of the "not Premier League" level argument.. it now leaves them with Callum Wilson and Wooden Chris as the only strikers at St James' 😐

    good luck Dwight 👍

    • Reply posted by Consett Mag, at 18:15 22 Jul 2022

      Consett Mag replied:
      I don't really get why he didn't play more for the Toon. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by they dont like it up em, at 16:01 22 Jul 2022

    Excellent signing,mustn’t gwumble

  • Comment posted by Baron of Brierdene, at 17:42 22 Jul 2022

    A good buy for Stoke. Never really cracked the PL but lethal in the Championship. Good luck next season and hope you get a couple of hatricks against you know who!

    • Reply posted by budthepolicehorse, at 23:47 22 Jul 2022

      budthepolicehorse replied:
      Yeah, a goodbye to £10million for a 33 year old who has averaged about 1:a season for the last four seasons.

  • Comment posted by Intelligenter, at 15:54 22 Jul 2022

    Excellent player at that level, never really given a proper run at Palace, will score plenty.

Elsewhere on the BBC