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Published: Tuesday 02 Sep 2008
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Soares and Tonge join Higginbotham at Stoke

by Michael Baggaley
STOKE City have signed midfielders Tom Soares and Michael Tonge in a £4m double swoop in the final hour of the transfer deadline.

Soares signed a four-year contract after Stoke agreed a £1.5m deal with Palace which could rise to £2m.

Meanwhile Tonge, who has also signed a four-year-contract, has cost £2m from Sheffield United.

The pair join Danny Higginbotham who returned to Stoke on deadline day in a deal from Sunderland understood to be worth around £2m.

However, Stoke have missed out on Cardiff winger Joe Ledley despite increasing their offer for the Wales winger to around £6m.

City were also frustrated in their bid to recruit a striker as a late deal for Wigan hitman Henri Camara fell through.

Soares, aged 22, can play all across the midfield and has played more than 160 games for Palace after making his debut aged 17.

He also started 16 Premier League games for them in the 2004-2005 campaign.

He said: "I am really pleased to be here. It is a massive club.

"Neil Warnock gave me call to say they'd had interest and I'd better get myself up to Stoke.

"I have to prove a point now I am here and I am sure I will."

Tonge aged 25, can play in central midfield and also on the left.

Manager Tony Pulis said: "Michael is a quality player. It is a signing we have worked very hard on behind the scenes.

"He has good qualities, can play on the left hand side of the pitch and, at 25, is a good age."