Leeds United have signed Danny Pugh from Stoke City on a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.

Reports yesterday suggested that the deal was close to completion, and the club have now confirmed the capture of the midfielder.

"We're delighted to bring Danny to the football club," United boss Simon Grayson told the club’s official website. “He is a versatile player and he is an experienced player, who has played in both the Premier League and the Europa League with Stoke.

"He also knows the Championship well and he knows this club very well. Two or three other clubs were in for him, but he jumped at the chance to come here.”

The Championship boss admitted that the transfer was initially meant to be finalised on the last day of the summer transfer window.

"This was a deal we almost did on deadline day with some of the money that is available, but Tony wanted to keep him at Stoke a while longer, so we've brought him in on loan in the first instance and will make it permanent in January,” he added.

Pugh makes his return to the club that he was at for two years from 2004.