Stoke City: Juan Agudelo signs pre-contract agreement

United States international striker Juan Agudelo has signed a pre-contract agreement with Stoke City to move to the Britannia Stadium on 1 January.

The 20-year-old, who has been capped 17 times, will join the Potters when his New England Revolution deal expires.

"I've known of him for a couple of years now," Stoke boss Mark Hughes told the club website.

"He burst on to the scene for the United States at the 17 and everybody has paid attention to him since."

The Welshman added: "I have kept my eye on him for the last 18 months, and thankfully we were in a position where we were able to pull this deal off."

Colombia-born Agudelo, who made his Major League Soccer debut for New York Red Bulls, only joined Revolution in May when he was traded by Chivas USA.

In 2010 he became the youngest player to score for the US national team, on his debut in a friendly against South Africa in Cape Town.

He is Hughes's third signing since taking over from Tony Pulis this summer, after defenders Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa from PSV and Barcelona respectively.

He has also become the Potters' fourth US international, following Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Maurice Edu.