Stoke sign Dutch striker Smit from Go Ahead Eagles

Stoke City have signed striker Milan Smit from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation to buy in the summer.

The 22-year-old has scored 9 times in 41 Eredivisie appearances since joining from Dutch side Cambuur in 2024.

Smit helped Go Ahead lift the KNVB Cup for the first time in their history and qualify for this season's Uefa Europa League, where he scored three times in six matches.

"The team's style of play fits me and the club share my ambition to one day play in the Premier League, so it's going to be really good for me." Smit told the club website., external

Stoke, who sit 10th in the Championship, are dealing with a string of injuries. Smit becomes their second loan signing of the season following the arrival of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Southampton, who was injured on his debut.

"We were tracking Milan's progress going into the summer, and with his continued form in the Dutch Eredivisie and the Europa League, the interest in him has always remained," Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said.

"Knowing the challenges of the January transfer market, we didn't initially feel it would be realistic to recruit him.

"[Head of recruitment] Ian Torrance and his recruitment team always have an awareness of the market across all positions and thankfully, down to a lot of hard work, we were able to act to add to the squad in a difficult situation."