Stoke City have confirmed the signing of striker George Hirst from Ipswich Town, with the 27-year-old Scotland international putting pen to paper on a deal understood to run until at least the end of the 2028-29 season. A further 12-month option sits in the club's favour, giving Stoke meaningful protection on their investment.

The fee has not been disclosed by either club, though reports in the days leading up to the announcement had pointed to a figure in the region of £10m. Hirst had been publicly linked with the Potters for several days, as noted in our earlier coverage, and the deal has now been confirmed by the club.

A striker with a proven Championship pedigree

Hirst arrives at the bet365 Stadium with a track record that will encourage supporters. Across three seasons at Ipswich he made 102 appearances and scored 23 goals, including 11 in the Championship last term as the club sealed automatic promotion. That tally was accumulated despite a knee injury having curtailed his previous campaign in the top flight.

Before Ipswich, Hirst gathered experience across a series of loan spells, including stints at Rotherham, Portsmouth and Blackburn, as well as a spell at Leicester City. It is a career built in the lower reaches of the pyramid before the quality caught up with the promise, and Stoke's sporting director Jonathan Walters believes the move suits both parties.

"We identified George as a target some time ago," Walters said. "He has a proven track record of scoring goals in this division and knows what it takes to be successful."

Hirst himself was direct about his intentions: "I'm here to score goals," he said. "Everyone wants to be somewhere that is going to help make them a better player and somewhere they feel they can help. I feel like this is both of those things for me."

Sixth summer arrival as Stoke build for promotion push

Hirst is the sixth signing Stoke have made this summer, joining Ethan Galbraith, Svante Ingelsson, Djibril Soumare, Luke Graham, Josh Griffiths and Milan Smit in arriving at the club ahead of the new Championship campaign. The pattern of recruitment points to a clear ambition: the Potters are targeting a sustained push for promotion, eight years on from their relegation from the top flight.

Hirst is also notable as a full Scotland international, having been part of the national squad's World Cup preparations. That international pedigree adds another dimension to what is shaping up as one of the more purposeful squads Stoke have assembled in recent seasons.

The striker is set to make his debut away at Southampton on Saturday, giving supporters their first opportunity to see whether the fee and the expectation are justified. With the Championship campaign already under way, there will be little time for the new signing to settle. But a player who has scored regularly in the second tier, and won promotion from it, will not need long to understand what is required.

What the deal means for Stoke's season

From a structural standpoint, the contract is well constructed for the club. A three-year term with a 12-month option means Stoke retain control of the player's future at a point when, if the ambition is achieved and promotion is secured, they can either cash in or take him into the top flight. The absence of a publicly confirmed sell-on clause suggests the negotiation was conducted primarily around the base fee.

For a club that has spent the better part of a decade rebuilding after the drop, signing a striker of Hirst's calibre and recent Championship output represents a statement of seriousness rather than mere aspiration. Whether the supporting cast can provide the platform for him to deliver will be the question the campaign answers.

Frequently asked

How much did Stoke City pay for George Hirst?
The fee has not been officially disclosed by either club, but reports ahead of the deal being confirmed suggested a figure of around £10m.
How long is George Hirst's contract at Stoke City?
Hirst has signed a three-year contract at Stoke, understood to run until the end of the 2028-29 season, with a further 12-month option in the club's favour.
When could George Hirst make his Stoke City debut?
Hirst is set to be available for Stoke's Championship fixture away at Southampton on Saturday, which could serve as his debut for the club.