An iconic figure of Stoke City’s Premier League days, Steven Nzonzi, has secured a fairytale return to the club as per their official media channels.
Where Has Nzonzi Been Since Leaving Stoke?
The giant midfielder initially left England to join Spanish side Sevilla. He spent three extremely fruitful seasons in the south of Spain, making 137 appearances for the Red and Whites, scoring eight times. He was part of the team that won the Europa League in 2016, after beating Liverpool in the final, and he was named La Liga Player of the Month in January 2017.
During his time in Spain, Nzonzi was called up to the France squad, and he left Seville for Rome in the summer of 2018 as a World Cup winner.
His €30 million move to AS Roma did not quite go to plan as, after a solid first season in Serie A, the Frenchman was sent out on loan to Galatasaray in 2019.
Nzonzi only spent six months in Turkey before returning to France with Stade Rennais, working with now Queens Park Rangers manager Julien Stephan.
The midfielder then moved to Qatar with Al Rayan in September 2021, playing 52 games and scoring six goals over two years.
A move back to Europe was in store during the summer of 2023 as the veteran midfielder signed a one-year deal with Konyaspor.
After a solid campaign in the Super Lig, where he scored four times in 33 games, Nzonzi moved to Iranian club Sepahan for the 2024/25 season.
What Has Been Said Upon His Return?
Jonathan Walters, Nzonzi’s former teammate and Stoke’s current Sporting Director, said:
“Steven needs no introduction to Stoke City fans. To have the opportunity to bring in a player of such talent and experience, a World Cup and Europa League winner as well as a Potters’ legend, is a huge boost for everyone at the Club.
“It’s going to take some time to get his fitness to a level where he’s ready to play, so – whilst we’re excited to see him back – we’ll all need to be patient for a number of weeks yet.
Nzonzi himself is also excited to be rejoining the Potters.
“For me, it feels like I have come back home.” He told the club’s website. “I have played football for some huge clubs in my career, but the best relationship I had with supporters was at Stoke City.”
Writer’s View
Stoke have said that it will take Nzonzi a while to get up to full fitness, so it will be interesting to see if this deal works out from a footballing perspective.
At worst, the midfielder will offer a calm head off the bench and he will be warmly appreciated by Stoke fans.
