Plymouth Argyle reveal key Maxi Talovierov transfer detail as Stoke City move confirmed | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle have revealed a major transfer detail after club-record signing Maksym Talovierov swapped the Pilgrims for Stoke City.

Plymouth Argyle have revealed that they have recouped all of the money they spent on club-record signing Maksym Talovierov after he swapped Home Park for Stoke City.

The Pilgrims were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship at the end of last season, and are now looking to build towards a promotion push under new boss Tom Cleverley.

The former Watford head coach said he expected Talovierov to leave Plymouth after they were dumped from the second-tier, with the Ukrainian international sealing a move to Stoke a short time later.

Plymouth Argyle reveal Maksym Talovierov transfer fee details in Stoke City move

Talovierov has confirmed his switch to the Potters, with Plymouth revealing that they had recouped all of the club-record £1.7 million transfer fee they paid for the centre-back in January to Austrian outfit LASK Linz.

The 25-year-old penned a three-and-a-half year deal with Argyle on deadline day earlier this year, but after just over five months at Home Park, he has now signed on the dotted line for Stoke, with a quick return to the Championship sealed.

The Ukraine international, who has played eight times for his national team, was named in the nation's European Championship squad in 2024, and will look to bolster his chances of making their FIFA World Cup squad next summer, should they make it to the competition.

Talovierov played 13 times for Plymouth, including in their headline-hitting FA Cup run, and even scored against Man City, but could not help the then-Miron Muslić-managed side avoid relegation into League One.

The agreed transfer deal with Stoke City also includes a sell-on clause, which would provide profit for Argyle if Talovierov goes on to make a move away from the bet365 Stadium in the future.

Stoke City's Maxi Talovierov deal significantly bolsters their defensive options

Stoke have agreed a three-year deal for the Ukrainian, who said he was "incredibly happy" to sign for the Potters.

Speaking to their club website, Talovierov added: “I always dreamed of playing in England, and the Championship is a tough but special league. The intensity of the football is very high, with competitive teams, and I know how big and ambitious a club this is."

Talovierov joined Plymouth from Austrian side LASK, where he played both UEFA Europa League and Conference League football. He has also spent time on the books of Slavia Prague, and has been a makeshift left-back at times during his career.

It looked a certainty that Talovierov would remain in the Championship following Plymouth's relegation into the third tier, given his performances in his short time in Devon, and Stoke may have landed somewhat of a transfer coup here.

They lost loanee Ash Phillips back to Tottenham after the end of the 2024-25 season, and with Mark Robins looking to take the Potters into the top half of the Championship for the first time since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018, Ben Wilmot, Ben Gibson and Bosun Lawal needed fresh competition in defence - they've certainly got it with Talovierov.