Stoke City’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018 was largely attributed to a series of poor transfer choices, with one of the most regrettable being the significant investment in Austrian center-back Kevin Wimmer. In August 2017, Stoke made headlines by spending an eight-figure sum, approximately £18 million, to bring Wimmer from Tottenham Hotspur to bolster their defense. Wimmer had been a dependable squad player for Spurs since arriving from FC Koln in 2015, but the high price Stoke paid raised eyebrows across the football community. This transfer made him Stoke’s second-most expensive signing in the club’s history, sparking hope among fans and management that he could help the team reclaim a higher position in the league.
Upon his arrival, then-manager Mark Hughes enthusiastically endorsed Wimmer’s potential, viewing his signing as a significant coup for the club. Hughes described Wimmer as a “hugely talented young player” and predicted that his addition would elevate Stoke’s defensive strength for years. Hughes, who had seen success with Stoke in his early years, securing three consecutive ninth-place finishes, was determined to rebuild his squad after a disappointing 13th-place finish in 2016/17. Over the summer, several veteran players like Glenn Whelan, Jon Walters, and Marko Arnautovic were allowed to leave, while Wimmer joined new faces Kurt Zouma and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Hughes was optimistic that this refreshed roster could guide Stoke back to the upper echelons of the Premier League.
Wimmer’s first appearances seemed promising, particularly in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United and a 2-1 victory over Southampton. However, Stoke’s form began to unravel, and the defense struggled against tougher opponents. By the time Stoke suffered a devastating 7-2 loss to Manchester City, Wimmer had become a symbol of the club’s defensive weaknesses. Despite his initial praise, Hughes was dismissed in January 2018, and new manager Paul Lambert soon sidelined Wimmer, placing him on a special fitness regime after deeming him “unfit” for Stoke’s high-intensity play. Wimmer did not feature in Stoke’s first team again, and by the season’s end, the club faced relegation to the Championship.
In an effort to recoup their investment, Stoke loaned Wimmer to Hannover 96 in 2018, followed by temporary stints with Belgian club Royal Excel Mouscron and German side Karlsruher SC. However, none of these loans materialized into a permanent transfer. In May 2021, Stoke finally released Wimmer, allowing him to join Austrian side Rapid Wien on a free transfer, thus ending a disappointing chapter that had cost the club dearly.
Reflecting on his time at Stoke in a 2022 interview, Wimmer admitted that he was shocked by the fee Stoke paid for him and surprised by the differences in diet and training standards compared to Spurs. Despite the high hopes set by Hughes, Wimmer’s time at Stoke remains a painful reminder for fans of the club’s costly missteps in the transfer market.
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