Joe Allen has joined Stoke City from Liverpool for £13m.
The Welsh midfielder has signed a five-year deal with Mark Hughes’ side, and leaves Anfield after four seasons at the club.
Allen, who was named in the team of Euro 2016, wasn’t a regular under Jurgen Klopp last season and looked set to slip further down the pecking order after Liverpool signed Marko Grujic, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum.
WATCH | First glimpse of Joe Allen in a Stoke City shirt and will meet up with the squad in Orlando tomorrow #SCFChttps://t.co/osPSJ1DidP
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) July 25, 2016
The new of Allen’s departure was met with a mixed reaction by Liverpool fans on Twitter. The 26-year-old is either criminally under-rated and under-appreciated, or overrated by fans.
It’s also possible the deal makes perfect sense for all parties, and that Allen’s a good footballer, who has moved to get first-team action, while Liverpool get a tidy sum for a player in the last year of his contract.
https://twitter.com/gillesoffthenet/status/757659116152188928
Joe Allen and Kolo Toure gone in the same transfer window pic.twitter.com/oOSDjnY7ns
— Conor (@ffsConor) July 25, 2016
Best of luck Joe Allen. Surprised someone bigger than Stoke didn't come knocking. Underrated for whole Anfield career in my eyes. #WalkOn
— Red (@RedRocketNelson) July 25, 2016
Joe Allen seemed like a lovely bloke, but lovely blokes don't always win you football matches; & I feel we've upgraded. Let's see….
— Dave (@dave_boon) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho can’t help thinking that’s a mistake…
— Andy White (@andywhite1143) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho another average player gone
— michael pearson (@MichaelPearson0) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho Some LFC fans never gave him a chance. We will miss him though, and Stoke have a bargain for £13mill Get rid of Henderson
— R1ch (@noneshall_pass) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho Massive mistake!
— Steve Jones (@_stevej_) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho was a decent player last 6 months, but did very little before that, and missed that sitter in the Derby. Wish him well tho.
— Lee Rowlinson (@leerowlinsonSBS) July 25, 2016
@JamesPearceEcho @LivEchonews pic.twitter.com/jwNXUAiq1Y
— ♢ (@FionntanLFC) July 25, 2016
@LFC Fuck off you fucking snake bastards, FUCK YOU KLOPP
— Mubashir (@MubzLFC) July 25, 2016
@LFC Fuck off you fucking snake bastards, FUCK YOU KLOPP
— Mubashir (@MubzLFC) July 25, 2016
@LFC MY HEART IS BROKEN
— Jordan (@ZeusLFC) July 25, 2016
