Stoke City chief Tony Scholes is delighted with their swoop for Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher was West Brom captain before his departure and has recently skippered Scotland too.
It's that kind of experience and pedigree that Stoke are banking on to help prevent some of the capitulations dogging the club last season.
“He comes across as the individual which those of us who follow the game would expect him to be," said Stoke's chief executive to The Sentinel.
“He comes across as a very self assured, confident, humble, to a large degree, and strong character.
“His love of the game came through. He still loves the game and is still keen to perform at the highest level for a number of years."