Duberry rejoins Stoke
Michael Duberry has become the latest high-profile name to leave Leeds after being made clear he did not have a future at Elland Road.
Duberry, a £4.5m signing from Chelsea in 1999, has joined Coca-Cola Championship rivals Stoke on a free transfer, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 29-year-old returns to the Britannia Stadium after spending three months on loan with the Potters earlier in the season, making 15 appearances, including 11 starts.
It is understood Leeds have reached a compromise with Duberry on his £23,000-per-week wages, with the club paying a portion of that for the 16 months he had remaining on his United contract.
It is an agreement Leeds have done in the past with a number of players, notably Robbie Fowler, Robbie Keane, Danny Mills and Dominic Matteo.
Although Duberry started the season in the Leeds' first team under boss Kevin Blackwell, he was soon loaned out to Stoke as the Whites looked to further ease their crippling wage bill.
When he returned in January, Duberry went straight back into an injury-hit Leeds side for the FA Cup third-round defeat at Birmingham, but came off with a hamstring injury on 22 minutes and with United 2-0 down.
That was the last of Duberry's 77 appearances for the club, and subject to a medical later today, he will resume his career with Stoke after now twice being sold by Ken Bates, initially with Chelsea.
Stoke director of football John Rudge said: "We're delighted he's decided to come back. He did very well for us during his loan spell. He's a player who the supporters have already taken to and he fits in well in the dressing room."
