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Sorba Thomas Thriving at Stoke City Following Return to Championship Focus By BBC Sport Reporter Sorba Thomas, the Wales international winger, has quickly established himself as a central figure at Stoke City following his permanent move to the Bet365 Stadium in the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old’s impactful start to the 2025/26 Championship season marks a significant upturn in form after a challenging period that included a loan spell abroad and relegation with former club Huddersfield Town, underscoring a promising ‘rebirth’ for one of the division’s most productive wide players. Thomas completed his move to Stoke City in July 2025, signing a three-year deal after a tenure with Huddersfield that spanned four and a half years but ended with mixed fortunes. His signing was identified by Stoke’s management team as a key piece in their plan to challenge for the top half of the table under manager Mark Robins. The transfer came at a pivotal moment in the player’s career. After a stunning 2021/22 season at Huddersfield, where his 16 assists propelled the Terriers to the play-off final, his subsequent years were fragmented. He spent the latter half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Blackburn Rovers and the majority of the 2024/25 campaign with Ligue 1 side FC Nantes. While the French move offered valuable top-flight experience, Thomas returned to England seeking stability and a clear pathway back to his most influential Championship level. Stoke City’s Sporting Director, Jon Walters, emphasised the club’s long-standing admiration for the player when the deal was announced, noting his highly desirable profile.
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"Sorba is a player we have admired for some time, and someone whose services are very much in demand, so we are delighted to welcome him as our first summer signing," Walters stated, highlighting the importance of securing the Welshman early in the transfer window. "He's got a strong physical profile, works tirelessly out of possession and technically he brings real quality, especially with his delivery into the box, which is a standout part of his game. " The early returns on that investment have been substantial. Thomas has immediately slotted into Mark Robins’ system, often deployed as a dynamic wing-back or a wide midfielder on the right flank. His technical statistics for the opening stages of the campaign demonstrate his return to form, with four assists and three goals recorded in his first nine league appearances. Crucially, his set-piece delivery remains a potent weapon, with a high proportion of his chances created stemming from corners and free-kicks, providing quality service for Stoke's central attackers. This level of performance suggests Thomas has recaptured the creative spark that first made him a standout in the Championship. Analyst opinion frequently points to his exceptional ability to generate scoring opportunities, ranking him in the top percentile across the league for chances created per 90 minutes. Graeme Rayner, a long-time observer of the Championship, commented on Thomas’s revitalisation, acknowledging his technical gifts were never in doubt.
"I’m not surprised at all that he's doing so well at Stoke in terms of goal involvements," Rayner noted. "His dead-ball striking was great — corners and free-kicks, just putting them into the right areas. It seems like he’s having a little bit of a rebirth there, and that’s great. " The transfer to Stoke has also allowed Thomas to continue his fruitful working relationship with James Rowberry, who serves as one of Mark Robins’ assistants and is also part of the Wales national team coaching setup. This familiarity is believed to have played a key role in Thomas’s rapid acclimatisation to the club. Thomas has been a consistent fixture in the Wales national team since making his debut in 2021. He was named in the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and has earned over 20 caps for his country. His value to Wales was further highlighted in June 2025 when he scored his first senior international goal during a competitive fixture against Belgium in a World Cup qualifier—a significant milestone that demonstrated his evolving contribution to the national side. The journey to this point has been anything but conventional for the London-born player who qualifies for Wales through his mother.
After being released from the West Ham United academy as a teenager, Thomas worked in retail and as a scaffolder while playing non-league football for Boreham Wood. That remarkable ascent from the fifth tier of English football to the Championship and the international stage within 18 months remains a testament to his tenacity and commitment to development. Looking ahead, the successful integration of Sorba Thomas is viewed as critical to Stoke City’s ambitions. After several years operating in the bottom half of the second tier, the Potters are intent on launching a renewed push towards promotion contention. If Thomas can maintain his current high output and consistency, his creative influence is expected to be paramount in steering the team towards a more successful campaign. For Thomas, the focus is now squarely on delivering reliable, impactful performances to repay the faith shown by the club and the supporters who have warmly welcomed their new Welsh international.
Benjamin Sorba William Thomas (born 25 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Stoke City. Born in England, he represents the Wales.
Jan 25, 1999 Sorba Thomas, 26, from Wales Stoke City, since 2025 Right Winger Market value: €3.50m * Jan 25, 1999 in London, England
Jan 25, 1999 Posisi utama Posisi utama: Sayap Kanan Posisi Lain: Depan-Tengah Sayap Kiri Nama di negara asal: Benjamin Sorba William Thomas.
Jun 8, 2025 Wales international Sorba Thomas has completed a move from Huddersfield Town to Stoke City, signing a three-year contract. The 26-year-old began his career in the West.
Jan 25, 1999 These are the detailed performance data of FC Nantes player Sorba Thomas. The website contains a statistic about the performance data of the player.
Jul 1, 2025 Stoke City FC Sorba Thomas talks about his long and twisting journey to the bet365 Stadium as he looks to make an impact as a goal scorer as well as creator Bookmark
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