Former Barcelona defender Marc Muniesa is delighted with his move to Stoke City.

Mark Hughes' links with Barcelona, where he spent a season as player in the late 1980s, helped alert Stoke to the possibility of signing a player who, despite trading Catalonia for the Potteries, stated his eagerness to make the switch.

"I'm very excited about moving to England to play for Stoke City and will do everything I can to help the club," he told Stoke's official website.

"It wasn't a big decision for me to make. I came to England yesterday to meet the people at the club and look around the training ground, which is very impressive.

"My season only finished a fortnight ago when the European Championships ended, but I can't wait to get started for Stoke. I would start tomorrow if the club asked me to."