Rhys Norrington-Davies snubs Luton to join Stoke

The left-back has signed for the Potters until the end of the season, much to the dismay of boss Nathan .

The Welshman has taken to well to life in the Championship, enjoying a successful loan spell with Luton during the first half of the season.

He will link up with his fellow countryman Rabbi Matondo – who also joined the Potters on loan from German club Schalke this window.

manager Michael O'Neill said on Norrington-Davies signing: “We are pleased to bring in another young player who is hungry to develop and improve.

“Rhys is a player we have been aware of for some time and I'm sure he will be a key addition to our defensive resources for the remainder of the season.”

manager Nathan Jones, sees Norrington-Davies decision to move to Stoke – who sacked Jones in November 2019 – as “frustrating” as he told the press “we've enhanced his career no end.”

“It's a very difficult one as first of all I want to thank Sheffield United and Chris () for trusting us with him, but these things happen, that's what happens with loans,” said Jones.

“You're always at the mercy of someone else when you take a loan, you're not in control of that player and that's what we don't like.

“We only take loans in exceptional circumstances and we felt that these two (Norrington-Davies and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall) were really worth doing as they're fantastic players and really did improve us, but we're at the beck and call of someone else really.

“Rhys was in a wonderful place and that's the frustrating thing.

“You think ‘why do people go out on loan?' One to get experience, two if they go to the right club, they get educated, they improve, and then they come back to the parent club fold a better asset, a better player and more ready for the first team.

“The rate that Rhys was developing was phenomenal here and still learning, because he's got a lot to learn.

“So it's disappointing, but some things are out of your hands and some things are not purely the parent club's choice as well.

“There's no point now crying about it, we move on as we're not a one man team.

“We're not going to suddenly be polar opposite to what we normally are because we lost Rhys Norrington-Davies, we've enhanced his career no end, so let's not forget that, but we move on.”

Norrington-Davies, 21, explained his motivation for moving to the Potters was because he felt the club was a step up from Luton, and the 4-3-3 formation Stoke play would be utilising his strengths.

“I've got big ambitions – I want to become a player and I feel like this is a stepping stone from where I was. Said Norrington Davies.

“I don't mean any disrespect to Luton whatsoever because they are a great club but I just feel this is the best move for me at this time, coming into this system of 4-3-3.”

Stoke travel to Ewood Park to take on on Saturday, where Norrington-Davies is available to make his debut for the club.

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