'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Stoke have made their second signing of the summer after midfielder Steve Sidwell agreed a two-year contract.
The 31-year-old was released by Fulham after their relegation from the Barclays Premier League and Potters boss Mark Hughes, who signed him for the Cottagers when he was in charge there, has taken the chance to add him to his squad. Sidwell will officially join on July 1.
Sidwell started his career with Arsenal and got his first taste of league football in loan spells with Brentford and Brighton before moving to Reading in 2003.
He was a key member of their Championship-winning side in 2005-06 and was named in the PFA's Champions Team of the Year. The Londoner scored 29 goals in 168 league appearances before joining Chelsea in 2007 on a free transfer.
Sidwell spent one season at Stamford Bridge, making 15 Premier League appearances in the process, before joining Aston Villa. He played in 45 league games for Villa, scoring three goals in the process, before switching to Fulham in 2011.
He scored 14 goals in 92 league appearances for the Cottagers – seven of which he bagged last season as the West London outfit waged an ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation.
