Mehdi Leris & Nikola Jojic: Stoke City sign Sampdoria forward and Serbian winger
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Mehdi Leris signed off for Sampdoria with a goal in a Coppa Italia tie against Suditrol
Stoke City have signed Sampdoria forward Mehdi Leris and Serbian winger Nikola Jojic for undisclosed fees.
Leris, a 25-year-old Algeria international who made his Serie A debut as a teenager six years ago, has agreed a three-year contract.
Meanwhile, Jojic, 19, who moves from Serbian Super League side FK Mladost Lucani, joins on a four-year deal.
"I know as a young player I will have a chance to show my quality here and continue to develop my game," he said.
Jojic won his first cap for Serbia Under-21s in November, and has scored 10 goals, as well as contributing 11 assists, in 45 appearances for his hometown club in the past two years.
Serbia's Nikola Jojic tracks England's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the European Under-19 Championships
"When recruiting young players you have to hit the market at the right time and, if we had waited for a further window, I believe that Nikola would have moved to another team in Europe, such was the interest he received this summer," said Stoke technical director Ricky Martin.
Leris, who can also play as a right wing-back, began his career with Chievo and also spent time on loan at Juventus before joining Sampdoria in 2019.
"I wanted to test myself in England because my dream is to play in the Premier League," Leris
"It is a new team but to have won three of the first four matches is really encouraging so I am excited to get started."
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