Stoke City release Saido Berahino three years early after drink-driving conviction
Saido Berahino has been released by Stoke City despite having three years left on his contract.
The Albion academy product, who is based in Cannock, was sold to the Potters in January 2017 for £12million.
But he's scored just five goals since then and was convicted of drinking and driving in May. He was fined £75,000 and banned from driving for 30 months.
On Wednesday, a short 15-word statement on Stoke's website confirmed Berahino had been released.
"Stoke City can confirm that Saido Berahino has today left the club by mutual agreement," it read.
He has been training with Belgian side Zulte Waregem this summer and is now a free agent to join other clubs.
Berahino's career has taken a nosedive since the 2014/15 season, when he scored 20 goals in one season for the Baggies and was subsequently courted by Spurs.
He subsequently failed a drugs test and was banned for playing football for eight weeks before Stoke bought him for £12m.
His time in the Potteries did not go to plan, and he went 913 days in between his last goal for Albion and his first for Stoke.
His drink-driving conviction earlier this year put the writing on the wall of his Stoke career.
Meanwhile, another former Albion striker heads into deadline day with his future up in the air.
Romelu Lukaku’s agent was in London yesterday attempting to get his Manchester United exit to Italy over the line.
The 26-year-old is hoping to leave Old Trafford for pastures new just two years after his big-money switch from Everton.
Inter Milan are believed to be in pole position to land Lukaku. They had a £54m bid rejected last month.
