Stoke sign Uruguayan international Diego Arismendi

Stoke have signed Uruguayan midfielder Diego Arismendi from Club Nacional for £2.7m.

It is the first time Stoke have taken a player directly from South America and the price could eventually rise to £5m.

Arismendi has set his sights on making as much of an impact in English football as fellow countryman Gus Poyet and said: “It's a dream come true to come and play in the Premier League.

“In my opinion it is the best league in the world and having watched it on television for many years, I had long held the ambition of coming to play here.

“Gus Poyet was always a player I admired as a kid because of the success he enjoyed in English football and I would love to be able to emulate him.”

He has been capped twice by Uruguay at full international level, having made his debut in a friendly against Norway in May last year.

Chief Executive Tony Scholes said: “Clearly, Diego will need time to settle in, but we are excited by his potential and are confident he will prove to be a great acquisition.”