Former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham has insisted that it is "exciting times" for the club following the arrival of Giannelli Imbula.

The 23-year-old has cost the Potters a club-record £18.3m, surpassing the £12m that was shelled out for previous record-holder Xherdan Shaqiri in the summer.

Speaking about the signing of the midfielder from Porto, Higginbotham is hopeful that Imbula can help to take Stoke on to the "next level".

"Great to see @stokecity starting to spend big now. Hopefully a player that can help club get to next level. Exciting times for the club," he wrote on Twitter.

Imbula has not been registered in time to face Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow night.