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Stoke City have signed Germany centre-back Philipp Wollscheid on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

The twice-capped 25-year-old defender will spend the rest of the season with the Potters, with a view to making a permanent move in the summer.

"Philipp is a player we've been tracking for some time and he will add to the competition for places," Stoke manager Mark Hughes said.

Wollscheid has made more than 50 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen.

And he spent the first half of this term on loan at Mainz.

Hughes continued: "He's got presence, technically he is good, he has played at a high level and he has gone for big money in the past.

"To get a German international at relatively young age is a good deal for the club."

Wollscheid will join club captain Ryan Shawcross, Marc Muniesa, Marc Wilson, Robert Huth and Geoff Cameron as central-defensive options for Stoke, who sit 11th in the Premier League.