Harry Souttar has become Leicester’s third major signing of the transfer window by completing a £15million move from Stoke.
The centre-back has been courted by the Foxes throughout the winter as boss Brendan Rodgers’ looked to add height and presence to his struggling side’s defensive ranks.
Souttar said: ‘Challenging myself in the Premier League is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down and I can’t wait to get started.’
Souttar follows left-back Victor Kristiansen and winger Tete to King Power Stadium this month as Leicester fight relegation.
They also tried to sign Jack Harrison from Leeds but the winger was not convinced at the prospect of moving to another struggling side.
Souttar has become the most expensive Australian footballer ever after signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at the King Power Stadium.
The 24-year-old central defender gained admirers for his performances for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup, in which he helped Graham Arnold's side reach the last-16.
Souttar's £15m move will shatter the record for the highest transfer fee spent on a player from Australia, which was previously held by Socceroos teammate Aaron Mooy following his £10m move to Huddersfield in 2017.
Rodgers is desperate to address his side's defensive frailties, with only Southampton conceding more than the 35 goals the Foxes have let in so far this season.
Leicester are without a win in their last five Premier League games and are just one point clear of the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Villa Park on Saturday.
Souttar's displays at the World Cup were made even more impressive considering the Scotland-born defender ruptured his ACL in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in November 2021.
The Stoke City defender - who scored six goals in his first 10 games for the Socceroos - faced a race against time to be fit in time for the tournament, but was a revelation in Qatar.
Arnold championed the centre-back's Premier League credentials after Australia beat Denmark to qualify for the Round of 16.
'I just had so much belief in that boy. I know his mentality is so strong,' the Socceroos boss told reporters.
'I tell you what, if I was a Premier League club, I‘d be banging on his door real quick. He’s that good.'
Souttar started in each of Stoke's six games in the Championship after returning from the World Cup, but was not in the squad as the Potters beat Reading 4-0 on Saturday.