Stoke City will be eager to forget their 2013 summer signing of Juan Agudelo from MLS side New England Revolution.
The Potters secured the forward on a pre-contract deal, ready to give him a chance to prove himself in the Premier League.
At just 20 years old, he had already earned 17 caps for the U.S. national team and was coming off a strong MLS season before signing with Stoke. There was optimism that Agudelo could develop into a key player, but his failure to obtain a work permit forced the club to loan him out. Ultimately, he left without making a single appearance for Stoke.
Agudelo’s move to Stoke simply didn’t work out.
When Stoke initially signed him, they had reason for cautious optimism. The Colombian-born striker had made a name for himself with the U.S. national team, becoming their youngest scorer in the modern era at 17. By the time he joined Stoke, he was already an experienced international, having played for New England Revolution, Chivas USA, and the New York Red Bulls.
However, the deal quickly went wrong.
Stoke agreed to sign Agudelo in August 2013, ahead of his MLS contract expiring the following January. But in November, his work permit was denied, leaving Stoke no choice but to loan him out immediately. He spent six months with Dutch side Utrecht, where he showed promise with three goals and three assists in 14 games.
Stoke later appealed the work permit decision after his loan, but when that was also rejected, they had to terminate his contract. Agudelo had offers from European clubs but chose to return to the U.S., rejoining New England Revolution.
Agudelo never fulfilled his early potential.
Though his European ambitions were derailed, he started well back in MLS, scoring seven goals in each of his first two seasons and eight in 2017. After five years with New England, he had brief spells at Inter Miami and Minnesota United before dropping to the USL Championship, where he now plays for San Antonio.
Looking back, Agudelo’s career is one of unfulfilled promise.
Once seen as a future star for U.S. soccer and a potential success story in Europe, his Stoke collapse—through no fault of his own—ended those dreams. For Stoke, what could have been a major signing turned into a regrettable misstep. Instead of becoming the next American standout in England, Agudelo’s time with the Potters is a forgotten footnote.
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