CHERRIES have today completed the signing of defender Marc Wilson from Stoke City.

Wilson put the finishing touches to his move when he penned a two-year contract for an initial fee in the region of £1.5million.

The 28-year-old, who was first linked with Cherries by the Daily Echo on our Twitter feed at the end of June, was among the crowd for yesterday’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester United.

He worked under boss Eddie Howe when he spent two loan spells with Cherries in 2007 and also played alongside him at former club Portsmouth.

Wilson made 176 appearances for the Potters, including 146 in the top flight and will bring valuable Premier League experience to Howe's squad.

He told the club website: “I am delighted to be back on the south coast. I know a lot of the guys down here and, as soon as I heard the interest from the club, it was very appealing to me.

“Of course it was a big decision to make with having to move my wife and kid back down here, but I am thrilled now that I’ve made it.

“I enjoyed my years at Stoke but I spoke with the manager Mark Hughes and we both agreed it was time to move on – I am excited now to start a new chapter in my career.

“Hopefully, we can do as well as possible this year. I didn’t come to AFC Bournemouth to play in a team that’s going to get relegated. I see a lot of positives in this team.

“The aim must be to finish better than we did last season – that would be a very good stepping stone.

“Personally, I just want to get my head down, train hard with the boys and, hopefully, if I get the chance to play, do the best I can for the club.”

Wilson becomes Cherries’ seventh summer signing following Emerson Hyndman, Lys Mousset, Lewis Cook, Jordon Ibe, Brad Smith and Nathan Ake, who is on a long-term loan.