City have signed striker Kenwyne Jones for an initial fee of £8m, rising to £10m with add ons, smashing the Potters record transfer fee.
The fee and personal terms have all been sorted and the player is undergoing a medical, which he is expected to fly through.
Jones is a former loanee at the Britannia Stadium, he spent three months with the Potters as a teenager when he was a Southampton player.
After returning to Southampton, and developing physically as well as netting on a regular basis, the striker joined Sunderland from the Saints, three years ago, in a deal worth £7m. Jones was an immediate hit in the North East, scoring numerous important goals helping the Black Cats to survival in the top flight after their promotion the season before.
Jones continued his fine form and was courted by the Potters last summer, but City were put off by a £15m asking price, whilst reported interest from Liverpool left Jones asking his club to allow him a dream move to Anfield.
His form dipped last season but he still played a big part in Sunderland easily avoiding relegation and now his size and strength should see him slot perfectly into the role currently performed by Mama Sidibe.
The Potters former record transfer was defender Robert Huth, who was signed for £6m from Middlesbrough last August.