The former England football striker Michael Owen has been thrown a career lifeline by Stoke City, signing up on a free transfer.
The Premier League board has approved the transfer of Owen, who made his name at Liverpool before joining Real Madrid.
He's signed a one-year deal following his release from Stoke's Premier League rivals Manchester United at the end of last season.
The 32-year-old's career has been blighted by a series of injury problems and he has started just one Premier League match in the last two seasons. It's been reported that he has signed on a pay-as-you play deal.
Clubs are able to sign free agents outside the transfer window but are only able to field them in the Premier League if they have previously registered fewer than 25 players.
Owen is set to become City's seventh signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Jamie Ness, Geoff Cameron, Michael Kightly, Maurice Edu, Charlie Adam and Steven N'Zonzi.
Owen will be available for selection ahead of Stoke's next Premier League fixture, against champions Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium.
For England, Owen scored 40 goals in 89 appearances, including a hat-trick against Germany in a 5-1 victory just over a decade ago.
