FORGOTTEN man Lewis Baker has finally left Chelsea after seventeen years to join Stoke on a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old made only TWO first-team appearances for the West London club in that time.
Baker joined Chelsea in 2005 when he was a nine-year-old, making his way through the youth teams.
In the 2013/14 season, he was named the club’s Young Player of the Year.
But the once highly-rated prospect only went on to make a pair of FA Cup third round appearances in a Blues shirt.
One in the 2014 tie against Derby and eight years later, in the thrashing of Chesterfield last week.
Baker was loaned to a total of eight other teams over his time at Stamford Bridge.
This included spells at five lower league English clubs, spending time with Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Reading.
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International campaigns comprised of two seasons at Dutch outfit Vitesse and stints with Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany, and Trabzonspor in Turkey.
The technically gifted midfielder becomes Stoke’s third transfer of the January transfer window.
Michael O’Neill’s team sit in tenth place in the Championship, seven points adrift of the play-offs.
The manager spoke to the official club website and said: “From speaking to Lewis it’s clear that he is ready to lay down roots at a club and kick-on with his career.
“He’s a very talented midfielder who will bring a different dimension to our squad and we are delighted to have him on board with us.”
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