EFL club release World Cup winner just one year after re-joining

Stoke City have released their retained list, with Steven Nzonzi and ex-Chelsea wonderkid Lewis Baker leaving.

The Potters confirmed the two players will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June.

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In a post on X, Stoke wrote: “The club would like to place on record our appreciation to Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi, who will leave Stoke City following the conclusion of their respective contracts.”

They added: “Both players leave with our very best wishes for their future careers.”

Nzonzi and Baker leave stoke

Nzonzi’s exit comes less than a year after he returned to Stoke after a decade away from the club.

The 37-year-old re-joined his former side in August on a deal until the end of the season.

It followed spells in Italy, Turkey, France, Qatar and Iran since his move to Sevilla in 2015.

Nzonzi’s career highlight saw him earn a place in the France side which won the 2018 World Cup.

However, he could not help Stoke mount a promotion push following his surprise comeback last summer.

The midfielder made 30 Championship appearances this season, scoring once.

As for Baker, he departs after four-and-a-half years at Stoke, having signed from Chelsea in January 2022.

During that time, he made a total of 130 appearances across all competitions, scoring 30 goals and adding 11 assists.

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New contracts and signings confirmed

Although Nzonzi and Baker will leave Stoke this summer, the club have also announced new deals for several players.

Mark Robins’ side have triggered a one-year extension clause to keep hold of Ben Wilmot for another season.

The defender joins Frank Fielding in remaining at the club, with the goalkeeper signing a new one-year deal.

Meanwhile, Stoke have confirmed they remain in talks with left-back Aaron Cresswell over his future.

Cresswell joined the club on a one-year deal at the start of the season.

Milan Smit’s loan move from Go Ahead Eagles has also been made permanent after an obligation to buy in the deal was activated.

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Stoke added that loanees Divin Mubama, Ashley Phillips, Gavin Bazunu and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi have returned to their parent clubs.

Following the release of the retained list, a new deal was announced for Junior Tchamadeu.

The right-back’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of next season.

However, he has now extended his contract through until the summer of 2028.