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Jese Rodriguez’s arrival means Stoke now boast most Champions League-winners in Premier League with five — despite selling two in this transfer window

Potters allowed European champions Marc Muniesa and Marko Arnautovic to leave, but are still England's Euro kings

STOKE boast the most Champions League winners of any side in the Premier League — despite having let TWO go this summer.

The arrival of Jese Rodriguez on loan from Paris Saint-Germain takes their total to five.

 Jese Rodriguez has completed a loan move to Stoke from Paris Saint-Germain
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Jese Rodriguez has completed a loan move to Stoke from Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Twitter @stokecity
 Jese Rodriguez was a Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016
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Jese Rodriguez was a Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016Credit: Getty

And the Potters could have boasted as many as SEVEN had Marko Arnautovic not left for West Ham and Marc Muniesa for Girona on loan.

Jese was twice a winner with Real Madrid — in 2014 and 2016.

While, Darren Fletcher, who was an unused sub for Manchester United in their 2008 triumph over Chelsea, arrived in the summer from West Brom.

Xherdan Shaqiri tasted success with Bayern Munich in 2013, and Ibrahim Afellay played for Barcelona in the 2011 Wembley victory over the Red Devils.

Bojan won it twice with the Catalans, in 2009 and 2011.

Chelsea are next in line with four — despite being England’s most recent conquerors, back in 2012.

 Darren Fletcher was an unused sub when Manchester United last won Champions League
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Darren Fletcher was an unused sub when Manchester United last won Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
 Darren Fletcher is clearly agitated during his Premier League debut for Stoke
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Darren Fletcher is clearly agitated during his Premier League debut for StokeCredit: Reuters

Stoke are Prem's Euro kings

Stoke — 5

Jese Rodriguez - Real Madrid, 2014 and 2016, Bojan Krkic – Barcelona: 2009 and 2011, Ibrahim Afellay – Barcelona: 2011, Darren Fletcher - Manchester United: 2008, Xherdan Shaqiri - Bayern Munich: 2013

Chelsea — 4

David Luiz – Chelsea: 2012, Gary Cahill – Chelsea: 2012, Pedro – Barcelona: 2009, 2011 and 2015, Alvaro Morata - Real Madrid: 2014 and 2017

Manchester City — 3

Danilo - Real Madrid: 2016 and 2017, Claudio Bravo – Barcelona: 2015, Yaya Toure – Barcelona: 2009

Southampton — 3

Ryan Bertrand - Chelsea, 2012, Oriol Romeu – Chelsea: 2012, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Bayern Munich: 2013

Manchester United — 2

Michael Carrick - Manchester United: 2008, Juan Mata – Chelsea: 2012

Everton — 2

Wayne Rooney - Manchester United: 2008, Sandro Ramirez – Barcelona: 2015

Arsenal — 1

Petr Cech – Chelsea: 2012

Liverpool — 1

Daniel Sturridge – Chelsea: 2012

West Ham — 1

Marko Arnautovic - Inter Milan: 2010

 Ibrahim Afellay made a late appearance for Barcelona in 2011 Champions League final
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Ibrahim Afellay made a late appearance for Barcelona in 2011 Champions League finalCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates Champions League success with Bayern Munich in 2013
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Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates Champions League success with Bayern Munich in 2013Credit: Getty Images
 Bojan won the Champions League twice during his early days with Barcelona
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Bojan won the Champions League twice during his early days with BarcelonaCredit: Getty

David Luiz and Gary Cahill are the only players left from that triumph, while Pedro is a three-time winner (2009, 2011 and 2015) with Barcelona and Alvaro Morata a two-time winner (2014 and 2017) with Real Madrid.

Manchester City and Southampton both have three.

Pep Guardiola can call upon Yaya Toure, who he started in the 2009 triumph over United, Claudio Bravo, who was Barcelona’s sub goalkeeper in 2015 and Danilo, who has won with Real Madrid in each of the past two seasons.

Southampton, meanwhile, have two of the Chelsea heroes from 2012 in Ryan Bertrand and Oriol Romeu, as well as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who was at Bayern in 2013.

 Stoke allowed 2010 European champion Marko Arnautovic to join West Ham
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Stoke allowed 2010 European champion Marko Arnautovic to join West HamCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Wayne Rooney’s departure from United to Everton means the two sides are level on two.

The Toffees’ other victor is Sandro Ramirez, who was with Barcelona in 2015.

While United still have Michael Carrick from their 2008 success and also boast a 2012 Chelsea winner in Juan Mata.

 Michael Carrick is sole survivor from Manchester United's 2008 triumph
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Michael Carrick is sole survivor from Manchester United's 2008 triumphCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Yaya Toure and Pep Guardiola won Champions League together in 2009
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Yaya Toure and Pep Guardiola won Champions League together in 2009Credit: Getty

They had allowed 2013-winner Bastian Schweinsteiger to leave midway through last season.

Arsenal and Liverpool each have a former Chelsea star in Petr Cech and Daniel Sturridge respectively, while West Ham now boast Arnautovic, who was part of the all-conquering Inter Milan side in 2010.

That there are just 22 Champions League-winners currently operating in the Premier League is a depressing reminder of just how long it’s been since an English side last triumphed.

 Several of Chelsea's 2012 Champions League winners are still in Premier League
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Several of Chelsea's 2012 Champions League winners are still in Premier League
 David Moyes celebrates winning a Champions League knock-out tie in 2014
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David Moyes celebrates winning a Champions League knock-out tie in 2014Credit: Reuters

Chelsea's win was now a staggering five years ago now.

And, in that time, only twice has a Premier League side reached the semi-finals — the Blues themselves in 2014 and City in 2016.

While, David Moyes’ United in 2014 and Leicester last season are the only other English teams to even win a knock-out tie in that time.

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