Dwight Gayle: Stoke City sign Newcastle United striker on two-year deal - and recruit John O'Shea as coach
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Dwight Gayle has scored 121 league goals during his career
Stoke City have signed striker Dwight Gayle from Newcastle United on a two-year contract.
The 32-year-old scored 34 goals in 122 games for the Magpies after joining from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2016 in a deal worth a reported £10m.
He is Stoke's sixth signing of the summer but the two clubs have not disclosed whether a fee is involved.
The Potters have also appointed former Manchester United defender John O'Shea, 41, as first-team coach.
The 118-times capped Republic of Ireland international is currently assistant manager of his country's Under-21s, having spent two years in a similar role with Stoke's fellow Championship side Reading.
"I think he will bring a great deal to us," said Stoke boss Michael O'Neill. "In coaching you bring your standards as a player and I think everyone knows John O'Shea had extremely high standards as a player."
'I heard everything I wanted to hear' - Gayle
As for Gayle, he follows Josh Laurent, Aden Flint, Gavin Kilkenny, Harry Clarke and Liam McCarron in moving to the Potteries ahead of Stoke's Championship opener at Millwall on 30 July.
"For me it was about finding a club that was right for me," said Gayle, whose goals fired West Bromwich Albion to the Championship play-offs three years ago.
"After speaking to the gaffer and the coaches I heard everything I wanted to hear."
Gayle first began to attract attention after joining Peterborough United in 2012, initially on loan.
He was signed by Crystal Palace the following summer, making his name with two of the late goals that helped to derail Liverpool's title bid in 2014 as Palace came from 3-0 down to draw at Selhurst Park.
He played for Palace in the 2016 FA Cup final against Manchester United, when they lost 2-1 after extra time,
Gayle was Newcastle's leading scorer when they won promotion to the Premier League in 2017, but only made nine appearances last season, having spent 2018-19 on loan at The Hawthorns, scoring 23 goals in 39 Championship appearances.
"Dwight's track record, particularly in the Championship, is exceptional," added O'Neill. "There were a number of clubs chasing him so we're really delighted he has chosen to join us."
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