Harry Souttar joins Premier League club Leicester City after Stoke City agreed to a £15 million deal

He has been touted as a future Socceroos captain and starred in Qatar. Now Harry Souttar is heading to the EPL, writes TILLY WERNER.

Harry Souttar has become the latest Socceroo to find himself in the Premier League. Picture: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

Harry Souttar’s Premier League dream has become reality.

Leicester City has confirmed the signing of the Australian defender from Championship side Stoke City on a five and a half year deal.

“I’m delighted to join such a great football club and challenging myself in the Premier League is an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down,“ Souttar told Leicester City‘s official website.

“There are world-class facilities here and a squad full of fantastic players, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Souttar will join Leicester City before this weekend’s fixture against Aston Villa.

Soutted and booted 😏 pic.twitter.com/80oaY3JXdH

— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 31, 2023

Souttar excelled at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and scouts suggested at the time a move from Stoke, currently languishing in 18th place in the Championship, was likely by the transfer deadline.

The 2015-16 Premier League champions, managed by Brendan Rodgers, currently sit four places above the relegation zone and lost four straight Premier League matches over December and January before a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on January 22nd.

Souttar, 24, has been labelled a future Socceroos captain. The Aberdeen-born player first signed with Stoke City in 2016 and has become a favourite at the club for his level-headed defence.

Souttar completes his medical at Leicester City’s training ground. Picture: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

While Championship clubs have been long familiar with the towering defender, Souttar gained international notoriety for his last-ditch efforts for Australia in Qatar, including a slide tackle against Tunisia that helped secure the Socceroos‘ first win of their campaign.

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold was immediately convinced of Souttar’s potential value, suggesting EPL clubs take notice of the centre-back in November.

“I tell you what: if I was a Premier League club, I‘d be banging on his door real quick. He’s that good,” Arnold told world media while in Qatar.

Souttar proved he can mix it with the world’s best at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Picture: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Souttar will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of England defender Harry Maguire with the Foxes. Leicester played a key role in Maguire’s development before his record-breaking deal to Manchester United in 2019.

Souttar becomes the second current Socceroo to sign with a Premier League club following Garang Kuol’s move to Newcastle - and subsequent loan to Hearts.

Originally published as Harry Souttar joins Premier League club Leicester City after Stoke City agreed to a £15 million deal