 On 23 November Begović was recalled to Portsmouth due to David James being injured, ending his Ipswich Town loan after having played six matches.On his return to Fratton Park he went on to play 15 first team matches during the 2009–10 season.On 1 February 2010, Begović signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at Stoke City for a fee of £3.25 million.