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Josh Tymon opts to leave Hull City to join Stoke on five-year deal

Hull's highly-rated defender Josh Tymon has left the club to join Stoke on a five-year deal, after turning down a new contract offer.

Tymon, 18, earned rave reviews after making his first-team breakthrough in the Premier League last season.

Tymon progressed through Hull's academy and made his first-team debut aged 16 in an FA Cup win at Bury in January 2016. He made his league bow in a defeat at Sunderland last November and went on to make a total of 12 appearances for the Tigers last season.

Hull's vice-chairman Ehab Allam said: "The club is naturally disappointed to lose a home-grown product of its academy. We have met with Josh and his representatives on numerous occasions starting back in January 2016 with improved offers of a professional contract.

"I want to make clear that we have made offers significantly higher than the figures circulated by some media sources."

Hull have sold central defenders Curtis Davies and Harry Maguire since they were relegated after one season back in the top flight and the club is braced for further departures.

Head coach Leonid Slutsky confirmed he wanted to sign a total of "six or seven" new players this summer when formally introduced to the media on Wednesday.

Allam added: "As stated by Leonid in his press conference, we are working very hard to bring new players into the club with news hopefully by the end of the week.

"This process can take time and as much as we would like all business completed immediately, some deals take longer due to the complex nature of the transfer window.

"New additions will be made to the squad to help towards our aim of a return to the Premier League. We wish Josh well for the future."