Midfielder Stephen Pearson has joined Stoke City on loan until the end of the season with a view to making a permanent move to the Britannia Stadium.

The 25-year-old Scottish international beat the transfer deadline to join Tony Pulis's Coca-Cola Championship promotion-chasers.

Derby County has received confirmation today that the transfer was approved and ratified in time.

Lanark-born Pearson moved to Derby from Celtic during the January 2007 transfer window for a fee of £750,000 having been courted for most of last season.

Former Motherwell man Pearson made 40 appearances in a Derby shirt and scored one goal, the winner in May's play-off final at Wembley to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, teenage defender Mitch Hanson has joined League 1 side Port Vale on loan.

The Academy product is a first-year professional at Pride Park but is yet to make his senior bow, having previously been an unused substitute away to Reading in April 2006.

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