STOKE CITY have today finalised an agreement for Senegal international Ibrahima Sonko to join Portsmouth which effectively signals the end of his stay at the Britannia Stadium.

The 29-year-old defender has joined Pompey on a season-long loan, but that will take him to the end of his three-year contract with the Potters after he joined them from Reading in the summer of 2008.

Portsmouth had to obtain Football League approval to proceed with the move to sign Sonko, one which had been agreed in principle by both clubs last week, due to the transfer embargo which had been imposed upon them after they went into administration earlier this year.

Having spent the whole of last season on loan at Hull City, he now gets the chance of regular first team football at Fratton Park after completing the switch to the south coast.

"This is an excellent opportunity for Ibrahima to play regular first team football at Championship level which is what he needs in his career right now," said manager Tony Pulis.

"We have good defensive options in our squad, so first team opportunities have been limited for him here. Therefore, we wish him well with his move to Portsmouth."