Hull City have agreed a fee with Stoke City to sign winger Sorba Thomas, but the transfer remains in the balance with the deadline approaching. The Yorkshire Post reports that the guaranteed fee for the 27-year-old is £7 million, which could rise to £10m with add-ons, but Stoke are unwilling to let the player depart until they find a suitable replacement. The transfer window closes at 11pm on September, leaving little time for the Potters to act. This potential departure comes as Stoke City sit 24th in the Championship, with zero points from three games and a goal difference of minus six after conceding nine times.
Sorba Thomas was a standout performer for Stoke City last season, contributing 10 goals and 13 assists across 45 appearances. His direct wing play and final-third productivity made him a key attacking outlet. He joined the Potters just last summer from Huddersfield Town, where he made 125 appearances between 2021 and 2025, and also had loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Nantes. Hull City, newly promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, see him as a player capable of making an immediate impact in the top flight. His former Huddersfield manager, Lee Grant, commented on the move, saying: "Stoke City have presented the club with a generous offer for Sorba’s services and the player has shown a desire to pursue that opportunity, so it’s a deal that works for all concerned. I wish him nothing but the best with his new side."
The major obstacle to the deal is Stoke City's current stance. The club's hierarchy will not sanction Thomas's exit unless they can bring in a player to fill the void he would leave. With the squad already dealing with injuries to Aaron Cresswell, Ato Ampah, Junior Tchamadeu, and Lamine Cissé, losing a primary creator without reinforcement is a risk they are reluctant to take. This leaves all parties in a tense waiting game as the clock ticks down. Stoke's urgent need for points is clear from the standings, where they trail leaders Charlton Athletic by nine points already.
Losing a player of Thomas's output would be a significant blow to a team struggling for form. His 23 direct goal contributions last season were a bright spot in a difficult campaign, and replacing that productivity mid-stream is a huge challenge. The potential £7m fee, however, would provide funds for a late-market move, but identifying and agreeing a deal for the right player in under 24 hours is a tall order. The timing is far from ideal, with a crucial home game against 16th-placed Norwich City scheduled for September 1, the same day the window shuts.
Should Thomas depart, Stoke's attacking options would be further diminished. The team has scored only three goals in its first three matches, highlighting a need for more threat, not less. The funds from the sale would need to be reinvested swiftly and wisely to address this. Any new arrival would need to integrate immediately into a side searching for its first win. The club's recruitment team faces a pressurized final day of the window, with the dual task of managing an outgoing deal while scrambling to execute an incoming one that can help change the team's fortunes.
