Sonko adds strength to Stoke's defences

Stoke City have signed the defender Ibrahima Sonko on a three-year deal from Reading for a fee which could be worth up to £2.25m, the club announced yesterday.

The 27-year-old moves to the Potteries after four years at the Madejski Stadium where he was a mainstay of the squad that claimed promotion to the Premier League, although his appearances in their two-year stay in the top flight were restricted by injury.

West Bromwich Albion have had an £800,000 offer accepted by the Dutch Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen for centre-half Jonas Olsson. The left-sided player has agreed personal terms with the Baggies and he is expected to complete his Hawthorns move over the weekend, depending on a successful medical.