After ten seasons in the Premier League, Stoke City have found life tough in the Championship since returning to the second-tier in 2018.

Despite aspirations of an immediate return to the top-flight, the Potteries have found themselves in a relegation battle in the last two seasons but manager Michael O’Neil looks to be changing their fortunes and play-off charge is not out of reach just yet with the club currently sitting 11^th in the league.

 

 

Players have come and gone from the bet365 Stadium over the years. Some moving on to greener pastures while some have found themselves playing at a lower level after leaving the Staffordshire-based side.

We take a look at EIGHT former Stoke players and see where they are plying their trade currently.

Find out who is the first one below…

Whelan spent nine years with Stoke City and a popular figure in his spell with the club as he played more than 300 times in the red and white stripes.

He was sold to Aston Villa for £1million in July 2019 and spent two seasons at Villa Park before being released in the summer of 2019 where he would later join Hearts in Scotland.

The Republic of Ireland international stayed for less than six months at Tynecastle and joined League One outfit Fleetwood Town where he currently remains.

The striker is still plying his trade at the age of 41 at North West Counties Premier League side Hanley Town although their season has been stopped due to the pandemic.

Fuller had a six-year stay at Stoke where he scored 50 times in over 200 appearances, including 15 in the promotion-winning campaign of 2007/08 that saw him included in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

After leaving the Potteries, the former Jamaica international became somewhat of a journeyman with spells at Charlton Athletic, Blackpool, Millwall, Oldham Athletic and Nantwich Town.

Pieters joined Stoke in 2013 for £3m from PSV Eindhoven and went on to feature over 200 times for the Staffordshire club in six years but his relationship with the fans soured towards the end of his time at the bet 365 Stadium.

The former Netherlands international joined French outfit Amiens on loan during the 2018/19 season before being sold to Burnley for an undisclosed fee that summer and has gone on to play nearly 50 times for the Clarets.

Choupo-Moting spent one season at Stoke and scored just five times in 32 appearances as the Potteries were relegated from the Premier League.

He left for Paris-Saint Germain on a free transfer in August 2018 and went on to win two Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue in his time with the French club. The forward also featured in the 2020 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

He must have made an impression on the German giants in his cameo off the substitute bench as the Bundesliga outfit signed him in October.

Arnautović joined Stoke in 2013 form Werder Bremen and made 145 appearances, scoring 26 times, in four years in Staffordshire.

The forward forced a move through to West Ham United in 2017 and was a popular figure with the Hammers until he expressed his desire to leave for the Chinese side Shanghai SIPG.

The Austria international got his wish and joined the China Super League outfit for £22m in July 2019 where he has scored 17 times in 35 games.

Nzonzi has become a Europa League and World Cup winner since leaving Stoke in 2015.

The midfielder played 120 times for the Potteries between 2012-2015, scoring seven times, before leaving for Sevilla.

It was with the La Liga side where the France international won the Europa League and would later join Roma but has spent recent times out on loan at Galatasaray and now at Rennes.

The defender joined Stoke in 2013 on a free transfer from Barcelona but would only be a bit-part player during his time at the bet365 Stadium.

Muniesa made 67 appearances in all competitions before leaving for La Liga side Girona in the summer of 2018 after a loan spell there.

Following their relegation from the Spanish top-flight in 2019, the Catalonia international signed for Qatar outfit Al-Arabi.

Berahino was once touted as a future England international but questions over attitude and off-the-field behaviour have seen the striker move abroad in an attempt to resurrect his career.

Eyebrows were raised when Stoke paid West Brom £12m in January 2017 and he became an expensive flop for the Potteries with a return of just five goals in 56 appearances across three years.

His contract was terminated in May 2019 following a drink-driving offence and later joined Belgian side Zulte Waregem on a free transfer.

Berahino join Charleroi on loan for the season on transfer deadline day.