2017–18 Stoke City F.C. season
Date from Pos Name To Date to
4 August 2017 DF Ryan Sweeney Bristol Rovers 30 June 2018
4 August 2017 FW Dom Telford Bristol Rovers 30 June 2018
11 August 2017 DF Marc Muniesa Girona 30 June 2018
21 August 2017 MF Moha El Ouriachi Espanyol B 30 June 2018
31 August 2017 MF Giannelli Imbula Toulouse 30 June 2018
31 August 2017 MF Bojan Krkić Deportivo Alavés 30 June 2018
Transfers -- Loans out
The 2017-18 season was Stoke City's tenth season in the Premier League and the 62nd in the top tier of English football. There were major changes to the Stoke squad in the summer of 2017 with the departures of Marko Arnautović, Phil Bardsley, Joselu, Jonathan Walters, Philipp Wollscheid and Glenn Whelan whilst Giannelli Imbula, Bojan Krkić and Marc Muniesa left on season-long loans. Coming into the team were Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Darren Fletcher, Bruno Martins Indi, Josh Tymon and Kevin Wimmer with Jesé and Kurt Zouma joining on loan. Stoke initially made a good start to the season with a 1-0 win against Arsenal and a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. However their defensive problems returned as heavy defeats against Chelsea (4-0), Manchester City (7-2), Liverpool (3-0), Tottenham Hotspur (5-1) and West Ham United (3-0) saw supporters turn against Mark Hughes. After an embarrassing FA Cup exit at League Two Coventry City in January, Hughes had his contract terminated by the club, and he was replaced by the former Aston Villa and Norwich City manager Paul Lambert. Lambert managed to improve the leaky defence but it left Stoke anemic as an attacking side meaning they were unable to see out victories and escape the relegation zone, Stoke finishing in 19th position three points from safety, ending their ten-year spell in the Premier League.