This FLW opinion piece examines one of the Potters’ greatest moments in the transfer market.
He would appear in the League Cup twice under Sir Alex Ferguson that season, but he would eventually go on loan to Belgium to play regular minutes.
Over the years, a number of Manchester United players have moved from Old Trafford to Antwerp, and there was a close relationship between the two teams during Sir Alex Ferguson’s leadership.
Shawcross would go on to make 19 appearances for the Belgian team, but this loan stint would change the young player’s life.
Stoke City signed him on loan in the summer of 2007 then, a few months later, permanently as a result of his exploits in Belgium.
How much did Stoke City pay for Ryan Shawcross?
Remarkably, Shawcross’s 2008 signature cost Stoke City an estimated £2 million.
That is a true steal, especially considering what he accomplished later in his career at the team and how long he stayed at Bet365 Stadium.
Furthermore, the reported price paid to Manchester United is undoubtedly one of Stoke City’s best-ever deals.
Ryan Shawcross was excellent for Stoke City
Shawcross made an instant impression on the team, and in his first season there, the Potters were promoted.
Shawcross demonstrated his leadership abilities when, at the age of 22, he was elected club captain following two seasons in the Premier League during which Stoke defied the odds and stayed up.
Shawcross would go on to captain the team for the following eight Premier League seasons, even taking the Potters to the European stage when they participated in the 2011–12 competition.
Naturally, that happened when Shawcross led the team to the 2011 FA Cup final, where Manchester City’s financial might triumphed.
| Ryan Shawcross’ career in numbers,according to Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Manchester United | 2 | – | – |
| Royal Antwerp (Loan) | 19 | 2 | – |
| Stoke City | 453 | 25 | 16 |
| Inter Miami | 12 | – | – |
Ultimately, here is Ryan Shawcross’s statline for Stoke City. 453 games, 25 goals, 16 helpers.
However, numbers frequently fall short of the situation.
When Shawcross finally decided to leave Stoke City in 2021, Tony Scholes, the club’s chief executive at the time, said it best.
“Ryan’s contribution to the club over the last 14 years simply cannot be under-estimated,” Scholes wrote in a club statement at the time.
“He became a talisman for us because of his exceptional leadership and the constancy of his performances.
“He’s been a fantastic role model both on and off the field, and the way he gave his all in practice and games embodied the qualities of Stoke-on-Trent: dedication, hard work, and loyalty.”
In order to recapture the glory years that Ryan Shawcross helped bring to the club prior to their recent troubles, Stoke would love to find themselves another Ryan Shawcross in the years to come.
