Michael Owen finally found a club by signing for Stoke City, but awaits clearance from the English Premier League, before his move is officially completed.
Owen had been a free agent all summer after Manchester United released him at the end of last season. The striker had been linked with the likes of boyhood club Everton, former team Liverpool, and Sunderland, but chose to join Stoke Tuesday. He, however, endures an anxious wait to see whether the Premier League will approve of the signing being made before the final 25-man squad of Stoke was submitted.
The deadline for sending in the squads was 4 p.m. BST, Tuesday, with it being unclear whether the club had shown the relevant documents to the Premier League board in time.
"The Premier League Board is currently considering an application from Stoke City to register a player and, subsequently, their squad list will be confirmed at a later date," the league said in a statement.
"Delighted to have signed for Stoke subject to Premier League approval," Owen wrote on his Twitter account.
"We have been in talks for a while and it was a club I was always keen to join. I'm particularly excited at the prospect of working under Tony Pulis.
"He has assembled a great squad that I look forward to joining.
"I'm now looking forward to contributing as much as possible to the club and can't wait to play in front of a great set of supporters.
"Thanks for your kind messages everyone. Can't wait to get going again!"
Stoke also confirmed the signing on their official website. "Stoke City have today won the race to sign England international striker Michael Owen on a free transfer, subject to Premier League Board approval," a statement said.
"The former Liverpool and Real Madrid hit-man has penned a one-year deal at the Britannia Stadium, following his release from Manchester United at the end of the 2011/12 campaign."
