Stoke City won’t be signing Franz Brorsson this January. 

The Malmo defender, aged 25, has secured a move away from the Swedish champions. Brorsson has featured in the Champions League this season, facing the likes of Chelsea and Juventus. 

Instead, Brorsson will be signing for Aris Limassol, according to Bladet, via Stoke-on-Trent Live. 

Brorsson spoke about his decision to leave Malmo in an interview with FotbollDirekt. He had many suitors, including Stoke, but ultimately he has chosen to move to Cyprus. 

"I actually do not know," said Brorsson, in that interview.

"If you go to a slightly bigger league, maybe you can more easily join the national team and the whole bit. 

“Malmö is really awesome but it is always fun to take new challenges and experience a new environment. It is never wrong to be able to take chances when you get it.

"It is not an easy choice to choose a club. It is difficult to know in advance what will be best, so it is probably a gut feeling. 

Stoke have been linked with a move for a new centre half since the unfortunate season-ending injury to Harry Souttar. 

Stoke are in eighth place in the Championship table, albeit with two games in hand on teams above them. Their last fixture was over two weeks ago, a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough. 

The Verdict

This is disappointing news for Stoke, who are in need of a new defender following the loss of Souttar. A Champions League experienced centre back would’ve been a big boost to their squad. 

While Malmo didn’t fare too well against some of Europe’s best sides, that knowledge and experience would’ve been a huge thing to have in Stoke’s dressing room. 

There is still plenty of time to find an alternative signing, but it will be difficult to find a deal as good as the one they’ve now missed out on.