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Odemwingie joins Stoke, Jones heads to Cardiff

Peter Odemwingie only joined Cardiff in the summer © Getty Images

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Peter Odemwingie has finalised his move to Stoke City from Cardiff City - enabling Kenwyne Jones to move in the opposite direction.

Stoke have completed the signing in time for him to be part of Mark Hughes' squad for the Premier League game against Sunderland on Wednesday evening.

Odemwingie, 32, only joined Cardiff in the summer, after a turbulent end to his career at West Bromwich Albion and scored twice in 17 appearances in league and cup, but new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not see him as part of his plans.

Hughes has been looking to bring in a striker since the summer and is happy with the transfer business which brings an end to Jones' stay at the Britannia Stadium, following the fall-out just over two weeks ago, when the striker refused to play against Liverpool.

"We're delighted to have signed Peter. Things haven't perhaps gone as well for him at Cardiff as he would have hoped and he's really keen to start afresh with us," said Hughes.

"He has a good goal-scoring record in the Premier League and will bring a different dimension to our attacking options. I've no doubts he will prove to be an excellent addition to our squad."

Jones was fined two weeks wages, around £80,000 for his actions on January 12, but Stoke have been quick to point out they have not been rail-roaded into allowing him to leave the club.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates insists the Premier League club could have retained Jones for the remainder of his contract, which runs out this summer, but believed the swap with Odemwingie is good business.

"The fact is he could have gone at the end of the season because he is out of contract, but this deal looked like a sensible opportunity for us," said Coates.

"I wouldn't like to think there was any circumstance where a player would think he can get his way by not playing for any football club."

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