Report: Stoke City almost missed out on Owen by 60 seconds

Michael Owen penned a one-year contract with Stoke City earlier today just 60 seconds before a deadline was due to pass.

Premier League clubs had until 4pm to register a 25-man playing squad, which cannot be added to until January.

However, Owen was not due to meet Stoke chairman Tony Scholes until Wednesday morning.

Several phone calls were made once the club were made aware of the deadline, which resulted in Owen and his agent travelling to Stoke's training ground, before he eventually signed a deal at 3.59pm, according to The Mirror.

Owen had been a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of last season.