Stoke City completed arguably one of the best pieces of business in the January transfer window by swooping to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Portsmouth on 1st February 2010.

The giant 22-year-old Bosnian international penned a four-and-a-half year deal at the Britannia Stadium after the two club's shook hands on a £3.25 million deal shortly before the transfer window deadline.

Begovic, who stands at 6ft 6in, began his career in Bosnia as a youngster with FC Kirchhausen. However, after impressing on trial with Portsmouth in 2003, he was offered terms to join the Pompey Academy, where he worked with City First Team Coach Mark O'Connor.

After impressing former boss Harry Redknapp he then offered him his first professional contract two years later, but he was soon loaned out to lower league French side La Louviere to gain regular first team football.

A year later he moved out on a similar loan to Macclesfield Town, before following that up with temporary moves to both Bournemouth and Yeovil Town.

It was with the Glovers where Begovic really started to gain a good reputation as he played a pivotal role in helping them move away from the League One relegation zone.

He then went on to make his long-awaited Pompey debut in May last year where he was influential in their vital 3-1 Barclays Premier League victory against Sunderland.

Despite a hugely impressive pre-season campaign, Asmir was then allowed to spend the first part of the 2009/10 campaign out on loan with Ipswich Town, before an injury to England international David James meant he was recalled back to Fratton Park, much to the disappointment of Tractor Boys boss Roy Keane.

Since then, the 22-year-old has gone on to play in ten successive games for Avram Grant's side, before James returned to the starting line-up in Sunday's 2-0 defeat against Manchester City as speculation mounted regarding the future of one of Portsmouth's most sellable assets.

Having represented Canada at Under 21 level on 11 occasions, he arrives in the Potteries as a fully fledged international having pledged his alliances to the country of his birth Bosnia-Herzogovina last year.

Following this decision he was soon handed his debut for the country in September 2009, where he helped them to a 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory against Estonia, and he will undoubtedly be looking to dislodge current City number one Thomas Sorensen and continue to build on his already impressive reputation.