- Stoke City sign Celtic winger on loan
- 24-year-old has won 33 international caps
- Hakšabanović has played club football in five European countries
Stoke City have completed the season-long loan signing of Montenegro international Sead Hakšabanović from Celtic, subject to international clearance.
The 24-year-old winger joins the Potters after making 40 appearances in his debut campaign in Scotland as Celtic secured a domestic treble.
Hakšabanović has played club football in five different countries, commencing his career in his country of birth, Sweden, with Halmstads FK, where he became the Club’s youngest-ever first team player when making his debut aged 15.
Two years later, the winger made his senior international debut for Montenegro, opting to represent his father’s country of birth, winning the first of 33 caps to date.
A move to West Ham United followed, with Hakšabanović gaining his first taste of senior football in England with the Hammers, prior to returning to Sweden with IFK Norrköping where a tally of 21 goals and 25 assists in two years earned subsequent transfers to Rubin Kazan and Celtic.
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“Sead carries wide-ranging experiences from his time playing across Europe and adds a different dimension to our attacking options,” said Technical Director Ricky Martin.
“We know that, to be successful in the Championship, we need players capable of breaking down defences in a variety of different ways, as well as depth of squad to see us through the season.
“We believe the attacking options we have been able to secure during this transfer window will help us in being an exciting side to watch, as well as helping us achieve our ambitions on the field.
“Sead has a big part to play in that, we are thankful to Celtic for the opportunity to take him on loan and we wish him well for his time at the bet365 Stadium.”
Hakšabanović revealed that the words of a former Potter played a part in his decision to make the Stoke City switch.
“I played with Marko Arnautovic before and he told me a lot of good things about the club,” said the Montenegrin, who played with City’s former number 10 at West Ham United.
“He said it was a family club, that he loved it here and enjoyed his football here.
“I feel like a new experience and challenge will be good for me at this stage of my career.
“I know I will have to be at my best to play and I am ready and motivated to show what I can do and achieve good things here.”