Sorba Thomas departs Huddersfield Town for Stoke City for 'significant' transfer fee

The Huddersfield Town winger has completed a permanent move up to the Championship

Sorba Thomas has completed a move to Championship side Stoke City for a ‘significant’ undisclosed fee, Huddersfield Town have confirmed.

The Welsh international joined the Terriers from non-league Boreham Wood in January 2021 and enjoyed a breakout season in 2021/22, with Thomas’ 12 Championship assists that season helping to fire Carlos Corberan’s side to the play-off final.

Thomas was sent out on loan to Blackburn Rovers midway through the following season after falling out of favour with then-head coach Mark Fotheringham, however, and was again loaned out to French top flight side Nantes last season.

Nantes are understood to have had the option to buy Thomas at the end of that loan spell, but have not taken it up and Stoke have now moved to complete their own move.

Huddersfield manager Lee Grant said in a club statement: “Stoke City have presented the club with a generous offer for Sorba’s services and the player has shown a desire to pursue that opportunity, so it’s a deal that works for all concerned. I wish him nothing but the best with his new side.

“We’ve spoken publicly about our desire to have our business concluded as early as possible in this transfer window ahead of an incredibly important summer and pre-season, and that’s as true for departures as it is incoming players. The earlier we can have our squad settled and defined, the better.

“Having this agreed early allows us greater flexibility and clarity in the transfer market as we look to continue our work rebuilding the squad and bringing top class talent to the club ahead of the new season.”

---

We Are Terriers reaction

Sorba Thomas had become a bit of a talking point again over the past few days, with some fans wondering if there was any chance he might still have a place in Lee Grant’s side next season.

That’s obviously now been definitively answered — but it typifies a four and a half years at Huddersfield in which Thomas’ name has never been far from people’s lips, for both good and for bad.