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Stoke City have had a busy summer transfer window as Mark Robins looks to propel his team up the table in 2025/26.
The Potters avoided relegation on the final day of the season last time out, with a 0-0 draw away to Derby County proving to be enough after a very unsettled year at the bet365 Stadium.
It’s been seven years since Stoke were last in the Premier League, but they have plenty of work to do to get back to that level. Nevertheless, EFL Analysis has taken a look at what Robins’ dream XI could look like after this summer.
Stoke City’s dream XI after the summer transfer window
GK – Viktor Johansson
Was there going to be any other choice? Viktor Johansson was comfortably the Potters’ best player last season, and he will continue to be vital in 2025/26.
Keeping hold of the Swedish number one is crucial to the success that Stoke will have. As per the Stoke Sentinel, Robins called the 26-year-old a “top goalkeeper” in March, and he will be hoping to continue his form once the Championship returns.
RB – Junior Tchamadeu
If there’s one position where the Potters are lacking depth, it is at right-back. However, Junior Tchamadeu is more than capable of taking charge of the position once again this season.
The 21-year-old was very good at times in 2024/25, and he played a key role in Robins’ team. Powerful and athletic, the Cameroon international will only get better as the years go by and he will be the starting right-back at the bet365 Stadium in the new campaign.
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CB – Ashley Phillips
One of the most important signings from this summer, Ashley Phillips has returned to Stoke on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 20-year-old has progressed greatly over the last 12 months, becoming a very capable Championship centre-back and it is clear to see how much Robins loves him.
Spurs will be extremely keen for Phillips to continue on this upward trajectory, and next to his new partner, he will only improve.
CB – Maksym Talovierov
Maksym Talovierov left Plymouth Argyle earlier this summer, joining the Potters after just a few months in Devon.
He was one of Miron Muslic’s star players at Home Park, and after he made the move to the Pilgrims, they came close to avoiding relegation. However, an awful winter period denied them the chance of survival on the final day.
Nevertheless, Talovierov will get his second chance at Championship football this season and his leadership will be crucial as Stoke look to shore up their defence.
LB – Aaron Cresswell
Experience is crucial in any team, and the back line needs it more than anywhere else on the pitch. Therefore, Aaron Cresswell will be of great importance for Robins in 2025/26, even if he cannot play every single game.
He is a player with a vast knowledge of the game having played 312 Premier League games over the course of his career and, after Stoke beat Wrexham to the signing of the left-back, they must ensure that they utilise him properly in the Championship.
CM – Steven Nzonzi
It’s been 10 years since Steven Nzonzi left the bet365 Stadium for Sevilla, and he’s been on quite the journey since.
A World Cup winner with France, the midfielder has been training with the Potters and Robins is keen to sign the 36-year-old for the new season as a free agent.
Similar to Cresswell, Nzonzi will not be the most athletic player at this point in his career but his experience is second-to-none and he will be a real leader in the middle of the park if he does re-sign for the Staffordshire outfit.
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CM – Tomas Rigo
With Sol Sidibe moving to PSV Eindhoven and Wouter Burger now a Wolfsburg player, Stoke need a new star in the heart of their midfield.
Therefore, they must ensure that they complete a deal for Tomas Rigo, a player who has been compared to Marek Hamsik.
Able to play in central midfield or slightly more advanced, Rigo complements Nzonzi really well and they could be an excellent pairing for Robins.
RW – Sorba Thomas
One of the first signings of the summer at the bet365 Stadium, Sorba Thomas impressed supporters while playing for Wales.
After a strong season for Huddersfield Town in League One, he was looking for a new challenge and he has found that in Staffordshire where he will be hoping to have a huge impact on the right wing.
Goals are needed, with Stoke struggling for consistent scorers last season. If Thomas can get firing straight away in red-and-white, then his team could be on for a good campaign.
AM – Lewis Baker
Lewis Baker spent the first half of last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, but Robins was keen to recall him back to the bet365 Stadium in January.
It was a fantastic decision by the Potters’ manager, with Baker going on to score six goals in 19 appearances at the back of 2024/25, including a stunning strike from inside his own half against Swansea City in February.
At 30, Stoke will have to find someone to take on this role in the future, but there is no denying the qualities that the midfielder has.
LW – Bae Junho
Similar to the right-back position, the Potters are struggling for depth at left-wing, and Bae Junho will be extremely important for the club in 2025/26.
The 21-year-old played 45 times in the Championship last season, scoring three times and registering five assists. Robins started to utilise the South Korean in a wider role more consistently at the end of the last campaign and he has plenty of potential.
However, competition is needed on the left flank as Junho comes back to full fitness after a dislocated shoulder.
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ST – Robert Bozenik
Robert Bozenik came close to joining Hull City last summer, but a multi-million pound deal never came to fruition allowing Stoke to come in and sign the Slovakia international from Portuguese outfit Boavista.
While he was not overly clinical last season, the 25-year-old has a high ceiling and he could be the answer to the Potters’ striker issues over the last 12 months.
He has played 48 times for his national team, showing just how highly-rated he is and with Thomas providing chances for him from the right flank, he could be a very effective player in Robins’ side.