STOKE City tonight announced the signing of Sheffield United striker James Beattie for a fee that could rise to £3.5 million after finally wrapping up a deal for the one-time England forward.

The 30 year-old, whose transfer was nearly sewn up before the weekend game against Liverpool, is due to meet his team-mates for the first time in training tomorrow morning, after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract.

His signature ends manager Tony Pulis's search for fresh firepower in the final 17 games of Stoke's debut season in the Premier League.

Beattie, who was capped five times by England in 2003, has netted 12 times in 24 appearances for Sheffield this season.