Stoke City have added further depth to their summer rebuild by agreeing a season-long loan for right-back Ben Johnson from Ipswich Town, the club have confirmed. The 26-year-old becomes the Potters' seventh signing of the transfer window as manager Mark Robins looks to assemble a squad capable of mounting a genuine push for promotion.

A full-back with top-flight pedigree

Johnson arrives at the bet365 Stadium with a considerable body of work behind him for a player still in his mid-twenties. He came through the West Ham United academy and went on to make 69 appearances in the top flight for the Hammers across six seasons, earning himself a reputation as a reliable and industrious right-back. He was also part of the West Ham squad that lifted the Uefa Conference League trophy in 2023, giving him a taste of winning silverware at senior level.

The defender made the switch to Ipswich Town ahead of their 2024-25 campaign and, while his opportunities in the top flight were limited to 17 appearances, he brings with him direct experience of the Championship having been part of the squad that sealed promotion back to the top division. Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters underlined that familiarity when speaking about the deal.

"Ben has been trusted to play at the highest level from a young age, and, for both club and country, he has been involved in successful teams," Walters said. "He knows the Championship well, having been involved in Ipswich's promotion last season."

Johnson has also represented England at Under-21 level, earning ten caps, which gives the Potters a defender who has been tested and developed in high-pressure environments throughout his career.

Familiar faces in the dressing room

Johnson's move to Staffordshire may come with a degree of comfort beyond the footballing side. He links up at Stoke with former West Ham team-mate Aaron Cresswell, the experienced left-back who himself joined the Potters earlier in the summer. The pair were colleagues during Johnson's time at the London Stadium, a connection that the club will hope smooths any settling-in period for the new arrival.

He also follows Ipswich winger George Hirst through the door at the bet365 Stadium. Hirst completed a permanent three-year deal at Stoke on Thursday, making Johnson the second Portman Road player to move to Stoke in the space of days. That recruitment pattern suggests the club's scouting and recruitment staff have built a strong working relationship with Ipswich, even if the transfers are structured very differently; Hirst's move is permanent, Johnson's a loan arrangement for the duration of the 2025-26 campaign.

Potters pressing for promotion

Seven signings in a single summer window represents significant intent from Stoke, who are entering their eighth consecutive season in the Championship following relegation from the top flight. The club's hierarchy have been open about their desire to end that run, and the calibre of player being brought in reflects an ambition to compete towards the upper end of the second tier.

Johnson is understood to offer genuine competition at right-back, a position where Stoke will want options across a long and demanding 46-game league season. His experience of playing at the highest domestic level, combined with his first-hand knowledge of what it takes to win promotion from the Championship, gives him an appealing profile for a club with upward ambitions.

Whether the loan includes any purchase option has not been disclosed publicly at this stage. Given Ipswich's own position having dropped out of the top flight, the structure and any potential future clauses will be worth monitoring as the season develops.

Frequently asked

Who is Ben Johnson and where has he played before joining Stoke?
Ben Johnson is a 26-year-old right-back who came through the West Ham United academy, making 69 top-flight appearances for the Hammers before joining Ipswich Town. He was part of the Ipswich squad that won promotion from the Championship and has won 10 England Under-21 caps.
Is Ben Johnson's move to Stoke City a loan or a permanent transfer?
Johnson has joined Stoke City on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town, covering the full 2025-26 Championship campaign. No permanent purchase option has been publicly confirmed.
How many signings have Stoke City made this summer?
Ben Johnson is Stoke City's seventh signing of the summer transfer window, as the club look to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion from the Championship.