How Viktor Johansson impacted Stoke City transfer for Spurs player | OneFootball

Sweden's number one was influential in getting the defender to return to the Potters.

Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson played a key role in getting Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips to return to the club.

It came as a surprise to many when the young Spurs centre-back chose to return to the bet365 Stadium for a second stint with the club, especially following a campaign that almost led to Stoke's relegation to League One.

The 20-year-old was one of the few strong performers in the City camp in the 2024/25 campaign, helping the Potters to keep 10 clean sheets in his 35 starts in the Championship.

Another big reason behind Stoke's survival was their Swedish international goalkeeper. In his first season with the red and white-striped side, Johansson continued to show why many people felt that he was one of the best shot-stoppers in the division, even in his relegation season with Rotherham United.

He recorded the second-highest goals prevented in the division, only behind James Trafford, and, unsurprisingly, he won the supporters' Player of the Season award.

Viktor Johansson's part in securing the signing of Ashley Phillips

There were reports that West Ham United and other Premier League clubs were interested in the 26-year-old on Monday, however they have decided to pursue another target between the sticks in the form of Botafogo's John.

Stoke Sentinel reporter Pete Smith said, amid the keeper's links with the top flight, that the Potters weren't expecting any approaches for their number one and that Johansson was happy at the bet365 Stadium.

In the same post on X, Smith also revealed the part that the former Rotherham captain played in Stoke's move for Phillips. According to the journalist, Johansson led a group of the club's players who urged the 20-year-old to return to the Trent-side city.

The Championship side clearly have a good relationship with Phillips' parent club as they have also managed to beat some of their second-tier competitors to the signing of Jamie Donley, Spurs' young Northern Irish international who had a breakout season with Leyton Orient last term.

Stoke's incredibly impressive loan summer signings

Donley's arrival makes it three impressive Premier League loanees that have come aboard the ship captained by Mark Robins this summer - Manchester City's Divin Mubama being the third of them, alongside the two north London-based prospects.

Championship clubs are limited to how many temporary acquisitions they can use - up to five in the matchday squad - so Stoke are nearing their max on that front.

They have received some criticism this summer for some of their transfer activity, particularly the sale of Wouter Burger to Hoffenheim. What you can't doubt is that they definitely know how to convince top-flight clubs to send their brightest talents their way.