Stoke City will be looking to build on a number of impressive performances so far in this year's league campaign under the management of Michael O'Neill. 

The Potters are currently sat eighth in the second-tier standings, and will fancy their chance of mounting a serious challenge for promotion back into the Premier League.

The club have made their fair share of signings that simply haven't hit the heights originally expected of them, although some have gone on to be a success.

We take a look at Stoke City's EIGHT most expensive signings (according to Transfermarkt) in their history, and what they're up to nowadays.

Find out who kicks off the list at number eight, on the next page....

8. Peter Crouch

Crouch is in at number eight, when he signed for Stoke for a fee of £10.17million from Tottenham Hotspur.

The forward went on to make 261 appearances for the Potters in his time with the club, before departing in 2019, as he went on to sign for Burnley.

He has since retired from his playing career, and has gone on to be involved in punditry across various media outlets.

7. Benik Afobe 

Afobe is at number seven on the list, when he arrived from Wolves permanently in 2019 for a fee in the region of £12.15million.

The forward is still with the club, but has been out on loan with the likes of Bristol City and Turkish side Trabzonspor.

6. Saido Berahino

Berahino's spell with Stoke came to a disappointing end in 2019, after various off-the-field problems in his time with the club.

The forward is at number six in the top-eight, after arriving for a fee in the region of £12.51million from West Brom in 2017.

Berahino has since signed for Belgian side Zulte-Waregem, and is currently on loan with Charleroi.

5. Joe Allen

Welsh midfielder Joe Allen is next on the list, when he signed for the Potters in 2016 from Liverpool for a fee of £13.95million.

The 30-year-old has gone on to make 158 appearances for the club, but is yet to feature for Stoke this season, after suffering an Achilles injury.

4. Badou Ndiaye

Ndiaye is another player that hasn't hit the heights that were originally expected of him since arriving for a fee of £14.4million from Turkish giants Galatasaray.

The midfielder has made 27 appearances for the club, but has had loan spells with the likes of Trabzonspor and Galatasaray.

He is currently on loan with Fatih Karagümrük, and it remains to be seen as to whether he has a long-term future with Stoke.

3. Xherdan Shaqiri

Shaqiri is the first name in the top-three, with the Swiss winger signing for Stoke from Inter Milan for £15.3million according to Transfermarkt.

The tricky midfielder went on to make 92 appearances for Stoke, before joining Liverpool in 2018.

2. Kevin Wimmer

Austrian defender Kevin Wimmer is second on the list, when he signed for Stoke in the 2017/18 season from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £17.46million.

Wimmer is still contracted with the Potters, but has spent the last two seasons out on loan with both Hannover 96 and Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron.

 1. Giannelli Imbula 

Imbula signed for Stoke in 2016, and there were high hopes that he could justify the hefty price tag of £21.83million that the club paid for him from FC Porto.

The midfielder had three loan spells away from the club, and had his contract terminated in February 2020.

Imbula is now playing his football for French Ligue 1 side Guingamp, which is the club that he made his professional debut for back in 2009.