Boro's captain, provided the assist to Boro's goal, however could not lead Middlesbrough to the win they desperately needed. In a disappointing season which saw Boro score only 28 league goals, Tuncay ended the season as their top scorer with 7 league goals, a quarter of Boro's total. Stoke City Tuncay signed for Stoke City on 28 August 2009 for a fee of £5 million and signed a four-year contract. He became manager Tony Pulis' fifth signing of the summer transfer window, having also signed his Middlesbrough teammate Robert Huth the previous day. He was eligible to play for Stoke the day after his transfer in the fourth league game of the season, and made his debut coming on as a substitute for Ricardo Fuller in the 84th minute, against Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium. He made his first start for Stoke in a third-round League Cup game against Blackpool, setting up two goals and winning a penalty. He continued to make only brief substitute appearances in the Premier League. A significant moment came during an away match to Hull on 8 November 2009, in which he was substituted off in the 87th minute after only coming on six minutes earlier. Although much was made after the event, Tuncay subsequently denied rumours that he was unhappy and insisted that his future lies with the Premier League club. After eight brief substitute league appearances, he made his first start away to Arsenal on 5 December 2009. He scored his first goal for Stoke in the Premier League on 12 December 2009 in a home match against Wigan. He also scored the first premier league goal of 2010 when he headed a 12th-minute goal against Fulham on 5 January. Over the course of the season Tuncay only started 13 games. During pre-season for the 2010–11, Tuncay scored five goals in five games. However, the season started with Tuncay making just a handful of substitute appearances in the League. He has stated that he would like to be playing regular first team football, and would consider a move away in January 2011 in order to find this. He scored his first goal of the season against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup. He followed this up with a stunning goal against Manchester United on 24 October 2010. On 27 November 2010, Tuncay played a major role in the 92nd minute against Manchester City,