Stoke City have agreed a deal to sign Djibril Soumaré from SC Braga in a €4.5m transfer. The 23-year-old Senegalese midfielder spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, making 27 appearances. Soumaré will join the Potters on a three-year deal after they reached an agreement with Braga to bring him back to England on a permanent basis. The report claims French trio Lille, Toulouse, and RC Strasbourg also expressed interest in the midfielder. Soumaré joined United on a season-long loan deal last August, marking his first foray into English football. The deal included an obligation to buy upon certain criteria being met, but United have no plans to bring him back to Bramall Lane. The Senegalese midfielder blew hot and cold in his only season in S2, struggling to find a rhythm of consistency in the Blades' engine room. He did not feature in any of the Blades' last five games of the season. Recruited by former Blades boss Rubén Sellés, the midfielder only made three appearances under him before the former Hull City boss was dismissed in September, meaning 24 of his 27 outings for the Blades were made under Chris Wilder. The United boss strengthened his midfield options in the winter transfer window, recruiting Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City and Joe Rothwell on a permanent deal from Rangers. Soumaré featured on just six occasions following the end of the mid-season window, making only three starts. Stoke are on the hunt for midfield reinforcements this summer after they confirmed Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi will leave the club when their contracts expire later this month.