Jermaine Pennant has agreed a 12 month loan deal with Stoke, just 12 minutes after the Potters contacted his club Real Zaragoza.
Pennant, who has played for Arsenal, Birmingham and Liverpool, jumped at the chance of a return to English football after an unhappy spell in Spain and after a major rush to get the paperwork in before the 6pm deadline, the deal was done.
Pennant will look to reignite a career that has stalled after leaving Anfield, and has been dogged by personal issues including a spell in prison, but is believed to have more respect for what he has got after his unhappy time in Spain.