Tom Soares joined from Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £1.25m. The young midifielder is highly rated at Selhurst Park and provides further options in the middle.
The thrid signing was for Sheffield United's 25-year-old midifielder Michael Tonge who joins for £2m. Again Tonge provides further midfield options including some left wing cover which was badly needed.
Attempts were also made to bring Joe Ledley in from Cardiff but Stoke's best offer of £6m was turned down by Peter Ridsdale and his board. The signings leave Stoke's squad looking much stronger than it did at the end of last season, although there is still further work needed in January in the positions of left wing and striker.