Stoke originally paid £350,000 to Belgian club Germinal Beerschot two years ago meaning the club has made in excess of £400,000 on the 29 year old.
He left with praise for Tony Pulis: "People tried to put me against Tony Pulis, but he did a good job," said Hoefkens.
"I give credit to Tony Pulis because he made me a better defender.
"One of my highlights at Stoke is winning his respect as a player in the end because I am sure he now wants to keep me."
Although Carl was disapointed at not being offered a longer contract at the Britannia.
"I was a bit disappointed afterwards because Stoke just extended my contract for one year, but didn't offer me any more, even though I thought I had done well.
"They accepted an offer off Bruges for £375,000, but I thought I was worth more than that and worth a new contract.
"That was the hardest moment, but I just kept my head down and kept working.
"People think I was one of the biggest earners in Stoke, but that is not the truth.
"It was hard to see those loan players coming in and getting those big wages.
He won't have long before he's back on the pitch with Stoke City, playing against us in October: "Maybe I don't want to play, but I know I have to."
Pulis said: "I never had a problem with Carl as a person and always thought he conducted himself superbly from start to finish during my time as his manager.
"And as a player I have to say he grew on me to the point where I would say he had an outstanding second half to last season.
"There was the episode in the January when we allowed him to go over to Belgium to speak to Bruges about a move back there.
"But I said to him to come back and fight for his place if the move wasn't right and that's exactly what he did."
All Stoke fans were aware the move was inevitable, but no doubt are still sad to see him go.