Ryan Mmaee is leaving Stoke City by mutual consent after two frustrating years.
The 27-year-old striker is believed to have increasingly tested the patience of those inside Clayton Wood. He has not played since August last year, being sent home early from a loan at Rapid Vienna for a chance to prove himself to Mark Robins – and it spoke volumes that he has been kept away from the first team this summer.
He has been free to find a new home but there have been no takers. Stoke have now taken the drastic measure to come to an agreement for the remaining year on his contract.
A brief statement from Stoke says: “Ryan Mmaee has departed Stoke City following two years at the bet365 Stadium after reaching an agreement with the club to leave with immediate effect.
“The 27-year-old featured in the league for the Potters on 27 occasions, scoring three goals.
“We wish him well for his future career.”
Mmaee was the main striker brought in by Alex Neil and Ricky Martin in the huge reset of 2023. He was signed from Ferencvaros in what will be a case to remember in terms of due diligence.
His time under Neil was stuttering due to injury and then he was quickly bombed out by Neil’s replacement Steven Schumacher, who told him to train with the under-21s to prove his attitude.
He was given a second chance by Schumacher – but only to the point where Stoke brought in a new striker and Mmaee was sent to Austria on a loan with a view to purchase deal. Except Mmaee got injured in his first training session and was returned to Stoke in January.
It was an opportunity for new boss Robins to size up the player as he got fit but he was to never make another appearance for the club.
It means only three players are left in the squad from Neil’s 19-man signing spree two years ago.