Football League World
·16 de octubre de 2025
Huddersfield Town will be covering their eyes at ex-winger's Stoke City form - He's a creative machine

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·16 de octubre de 2025
Sorba Thomas is thriving for both Stoke City and Wales since his Huddersfield Town departure
Sorba Thomas has shone in the Championship for Stoke City this season after leaving League One Huddersfield Town in the summer - much to the annoyance of the Terriers.
Welsh international winger Thomas' journey to starring in the Championship has not been a regular, straightforward one.
Having spent time in the youth academy at West Ham, Thomas joined Boreham Wood in 2016. He initially struggled for first-team action with the club before having his breakthrough season in the 2018/19 campaign, solidifying himself as a first-team regular.
He'd continue as a regular in the side and impressed in the National League, drawing the attention of Huddersfield, who took a punt on Thomas in January 2021.
The Welshman made little impact in his first half-season in West Yorkshire, but in his first full season with the club, Thomas scored three goals and grabbed 12 assists in 43 appearances in the Championship, lighting up the second division with his performances out wide.
In total, Thomas played 125 times in all competitions for the Terriers, scoring seven and assisting 31 times. His spell with Huddersfield would also include two loan spells, first to Blackburn Rovers and then to French club Nantes, and upon his return from France this summer, the 26-year-old sought to leave following the club's relegation to League One.
This summer, Thomas signed for Stoke on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, although this fee is believed to have been less than £2 million.
Upon his return to the Championship, the Welshman has been in electric form, having scored three goals and contributed four assists in nine games as the Potters sit fifth in the Championship table under manager Mark Robins.
Predominantly deployed out on the left flank, where he can cut in on his favoured right foot, Thomas has played every single minute of Stoke's campaign so far, certifying himself as a key player for Stoke, who are looking to have a much more positive season than in years previous.
According to FotMob, Thomas leads the way in the Championship for both big chances created (9), averaging one per match, and chances created (25), narrowly ahead of Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan in both statistics.
The winger has continued his club form for his country in the recent international break, as after remaining as an unused substitute for Wales' 3-0 loss to England, Thomas played the full 90 minutes against Belgium, and grabbed another assist in their 4-2 defeat.
Stoke will be hoping their bargain signing can continue his rich vein of form ahead of their home clash with Wrexham this weekend, in what will no doubt be a competitive affair, and it may take someone like Thomas to win the match for the Potters.
Meanwhile, in League One, Lee Grant's start to life at Huddersfield - which is his first job in senior management - has been very hit-and-miss.
The Terriers sit just outside the play-off places after 11 games, with six wins, one draw and four defeats, leaving them six points astray from league leaders Stevenage, who have played one less match than the West Yorkshire club.
Huddersfield have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions, though one of those fixtures does include a defeat to Manchester City; it also includes a loss to League Two Harrogate Town and a home draw to Burton Albion.
Both Joe Taylor and Alfie May lead Huddersfield's goal output at this stage this season, with both having contributed a combined four goals and assists - three fewer than Thomas in the tier above.
Upon Thomas' departure, Grant said, "Stoke City have presented the club with a generous offer for Sorba’s services and the player has shown a desire to pursue that opportunity, so it’s a deal that works for all concerned. I wish him nothing but the best with his new side.
"Having this agreed early allows us greater flexibility and clarity in the transfer market as we look to continue our work rebuilding the squad and bringing top-class talent to the club ahead of the new season."
It's not quite panic stations just yet for Grant and Huddersfield, with not even a quarter of the season having passed, but they will almost certainly be looking on in envy at the Welshman and wonder what could have been if he had remained with the club.