Stoke City have secured a major piece of business for the future, with star goalkeeper Viktor Johansson signing a new four-year contract that will keep him at the Championship club until at least 2029.
The 27-year-old Sweden international, who has 12 caps for his country, has been sidelined since January after undergoing shoulder surgery. But there's good news on the horizon for Potters fans: Johansson is now back in full training and could make his return in Saturday's season finale against Bristol City.
Before his injury, Johansson was nothing short of a brick wall between the posts. The shot-stopper had started 70 consecutive league matches for Stoke, a testament to his durability and consistency. In his first 24 games this season alone, he kept eight clean sheets while helping the team concede just 23 goals—the joint-best defensive record in the Championship at the time.
Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters didn't hold back when praising the keeper, calling him "incredibly special" to the club. "In my eyes, and I'm sure in the eyes of our supporters as well, Viktor is the best goalkeeper in the Championship," Walters told the club website. "Securing his long-term future is a statement of our intent. Viktor epitomises everything we all want to see in a Stoke City player. His energy, leadership and relentless desire to win drive standards every day, and his influence on those around him is clear for everyone to see."
Johansson, who joined Stoke from Rotherham ahead of the 2024-25 season, admitted the decision was an easy one. "As soon as Jon brought up signing a new deal, it was something I was desperate to do," he said. "My full focus has been on my rehabilitation so I can be available for the team. While we are all naturally disappointed that this season hasn't fulfilled the promise it showed in the first half of the season, I take positives from how we proved we can compete at the top of this division."
Looking ahead to the final day, Stoke can finish as high as 14th in the Championship—which would match their best league position since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018. To achieve that, they'll need to beat Bristol City while hoping results elsewhere go their way. But with their star keeper locked in for the long haul, the future is looking bright at the bet365 Stadium.