Stoke City have confirmed their second transfer deadline day signing in the form of Bruno Martins Indi on a season-long loan from Portuguese giants FC Porto. Earlier today, the Potters struck another stunning loan deal bringing Manchester City forward Wilfred Bony at the Bet365 Stadium. The arrival of the Dutch international pushes German stopper Philipp Wollscheid to the exit door as the 27-year-old heads back to his native Germany to join Wolfsburg.
Martins Indi is a versatile defender who can play either as a central defender or as a left-back. A full international for the Netherlands since 2012, he has been capped 31 times for the Oranje and was a part of their squad which finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was a regular under Louis van Gaal in the Dutch squad.
Still only 24, Indi has a big future ahead of him and could prove to be a long-term success at Stoke City. If he can impress Mark Hughes this season, the Potters will definitely try to keep the Dutchman permanently at the club. A product of Dutch giants Feyenoord’s youth system, Indi broke into the first team at a very young age and earned his big move to Porto two years back.
With a frame of 6’1″, Indi excels in the air and is a committed player who gives his all on the pitch for the team. A good passer of the ball, Indi is pretty much a modern-day ball-playing defender and probably that is why he was admired by van Gaal. The Dutchman has a decent pace in his locker which makes him capable of playing as a left-back.
Stoke City are a team who play a possession-based game and a ball-playing defender like Indi will fit in very well in their system. The 24-year-old will also be able to provide a much-needed cover to his compatriot Erik Pieters in the left-back position.
Twitter reacted to the deal being announced and most fans seemed to be very happy with the deal finally getting announced. Here are some tweets-
@stokecity @FCPorto From Champions League to a cold night in Stoke. Comedy Gold.
— Deluded. (@mxgnolet) August 31, 2016
.@stokecity pic.twitter.com/lSI9lEEoKe
— Joe Barbieri (@JoeBarbieri_) August 31, 2016
@stokecity @FCPorto DUTCH VIDIC
— fairly pleased (@OhReallyShaqiri) August 31, 2016
@stokecity @FCPorto berahino now please
— Wayne Adams (@wayne_adams) August 31, 2016
@stokecity @FCPorto Stoke City acting as Porto’s garbage bin
— Luis (@luis_pvr) August 31, 2016
@stokecity @fcporto @officialfpl one of the best signing so for this season
— SENDILNATHAN P (@sendil_ajith) August 31, 2016
@stokecity @ffsKlopp @FCPorto meme legend
— Robert (@Rob5LFC) August 31, 2016
