Stoke City chief Tony Scholes is delighted to welcome Uruguayan starlet Diego Arismendi as the club's first South American signing.

The midfielder has joined from Club Nacional for an initial fee of €3million (£2.6m) which could rise to €5.5million (£4.8m).

Scholes said: "This is the first time the club has signed a player directly from South America.

"Clearly, Diego will need time to settle in, but we are excited by his potential and are confident he will prove to be a great acquisition."