The maligned former Portsmouth man out to fulfil big billing at Championship rivals Stoke City after £600,000 deal for former Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers prospect
He spent the first half of the 2022-23 season at Fratton Park, earning mixed reviews. Now he’s on the move to Championship rivals to Stoke City from West Brom.
He faced criticism for his form in his time at Fratton Park.
Some felt the criticism directed at keeper Josh Griffiths during his 2022-23 Pompey stay was a little harsh, however.
£600,000 deal as Griffiths moves from West Brom to Stoke after Fratton flak
Former Blues boss Danny Cowley was among those who believed this, with his conviction the West Brom loanee would establish himself at Championship level - at least.
That is now definitely the target for the 24-year-old, as he joined the Blues’ rivals Stoke City in a reported £600,000 detail.
Griffiths has agreed a two-year deal at the bet365 Stadium, after making 25 appearances with the Baggies last term.
That followed a loan spell with Bristol Rovers in League One, as playing time became sparse for the former England under-21 at The Hawthorns after his Pompey stint.
Griffiths kept seven clean sheets in 28 Pompey appearances, with mixed reviews before he was recalled by West Brom in January 2023.
Now he could face his former employers next term, after completing a move to the Potteries.
Griffiths told Stoke’s official site: ‘The fact I have worked so hard to earn this opportunity meant that was a big tick in the box for me.
‘Last season, I gained a lot of experience in Championship football after good loan experiences in League One and Two.
‘I’ve now played a decent amount of games in my career which has given me a calmness that I believe will help players in front of me.’
Speaking about the criticism Griffiths faced during his time at Pompey, Cowley was supportive of the player and endorsed his potential.
Speaking in 2023, Cowley said: ‘Football fans can sometimes be pretty quick to judge, and once they get an opinion, whether it's right or wrong they tend to stick with it.
‘Josh did great for us, he was incredibly consistent and he brought a calmness and confidence with his presence.
‘I always think with goalkeepers that if they've made less than five mistakes which have directly led to goals in a season, then they've done well. Certainly, Josh made very few mistakes.
‘I have absolutely no doubt that Josh will play regularly in the Championship at least.
‘I think he's in the top two or three under-21 goalkeepers in this country at the moment. I really believe in him as a boy.
‘He's got some fantastic tools, but my biggest confidence in Josh is that I know he is going to make the most of those tools.
‘The Championship for sure, but beyond that who knows? Anything is possible with him.
‘When his opportunity does arise, whether it's this week or in the future, I have full confidence that Josh has the competence to take that.’