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+----- Thread: Ipswich news (/showthread.php?tid=12386)
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RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 24-01-2024
Ipswich Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has signed a new one-year deal with the promotion-chasing Championship club.
The 31-year-old, who recently retired from international football with Australia to focus on Ipswich's bid to reach the Premier League, was into the final six months of his previous deal.
He helped Ipswich win promotion from League One last season and has again been instrumental this term.
"I love every bit about being here," Luongo told the club website.
"I'm pleased to have got this done so now it's a case of getting my head down and getting on with the rest of the season, doing my best to help the team."
Luongo, who has previously played for Swindon, Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and Middlesbrough, is in his second spell with the Tractor Boys after first featuring for them on loan from Tottenham in 2012.
He scored two goals in 16 appearances after rejoining them in January last season to boost their promotion push from the third tier.
So far this season, Luongo has played 26 times and scored twice in the Championship.
He played a crucial role in helping Ipswich return to second place in the table on Monday, as his late shot was saved and dropped kindly for Jeremy Sarmiento to pounce on and score as he rescued a draw against leaders Leicester.
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 30-01-2024
Ipswich Town have signed striker Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old has agreed a deal with the Tractor Boys until the summer of 2028 after scoring 17 goals in 29 appearances for the Dons this season.
Al-Hamadi has won 12 international caps for Iraq and has been with them at the Asian Cup since the start of the year.
"Ipswich is a club on an upward trajectory, with a manager who is known for developing players," he said.
"At this point in my career I feel like I am ready to make the step up and this feels like the perfect fit for me.
"I am hungry to score goals and understand it's a step up to the Championship where players are better and sharper, but I'm confident in my ability, I am hungry to learn and am looking forward to joining up with the squad."
Ipswich will soon be ready to 'rock and roll' again - Morsy
AFC Wimbledon say the deal includes "future incentives which could see the transfer become a record amount at League Two level".
Al-Hamadi will provide boss Kieran McKenna with an extra attacking option, following George Hirst's injury and the loan departure of Freddie Ladapo.
The signing comes just two days after Town were knocked out of the FA Cup by sixth-tier Maidstone United.
But they are second in the Championship and in a great position to secure promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
"He fits our recruitment profile of being a young, hungry, athletic and technical player who we feel can have an impact in the squad straight away, but also has room to grow and develop for the future," McKenna said.
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 02-02-2024
Ipswich Town have signed striker Kieffer Moore from Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season.
The Wales international, 31, had a spell with Ipswich between 2017 and 2018 where he made 11 appearances.
Moore has 39 caps for his country and has also played for Cardiff, Barnsley, Wigan and Rotherham, having begun his career in non-league football.
He joined the Cherries in 2022 but has only featured in the Premier League this season from the bench.
"It's great to finally get it over the line because it's been a long time coming during the window," Moore told the Ipswich club website.
"I remember my first spell here and I've gone away and worked very hard on myself during that time, so I'm delighted to be back and can't wait to get going."
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna added: "We are delighted to have signed a striker with strong Championship pedigree, as well as experience in the Premier League and at international level.
"Kieffer will bring some very important technical and physical attributes to the squad. We feel his professionalism and mentality will be an addition to the culture we already have within the group."
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 25-06-2025
Ipswich Town centre-back Dara O'Shea has signed a new five-year contract with the Championship club.
The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international joined Town last summer and played 35 Premier League games in 2024-25.
He began his career at West Bromwich Albion and made his top-flight debut for Burnley two seasons ago, adding a further two appearances at the start of last term before moving to Portman Road.
"He has real experience, despite still being relatively young for a central defender, and we believe he has the ability to further improve in the years to come," said head coach Kieran McKenna.
Ipswich will find out on Thursday who they will play at the start of the new season following last season's relegation.
"We learned a lot last season and that will be really important for us going forward. I'm glad to have signed this new contract and I am ready to get to work again in pre-season," said O'Shea, the club's Player of the Year.
"There are good characters and good human beings at this club and I want to help deliver success again and help the club get back into the Premier League. This is a massive club but it can continue to grow and I'm excited."
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 04-07-2025
Ipswich Town striker George Hirst has signed a new four-year deal at the club.
Hirst, 26, has made 81 appearances and scored 19 goals since he joined on loan from Leicester City in January 2023, before making the move permanent six months later.
He played a part in the club's back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, and made his international debut for Scotland in March.
"I've enjoyed every single day at the club since joining, and am really pleased to have signed a new deal," Hirst told the club website, external.
"We have achieved so much as a team, group and club over the last few years and to be part of that going forward, and hopefully achieving even more, is really exciting for me."
Manager Kieran McKenna said: "We're very pleased George has decided to extend his stay at the club.
"George has had a big impact on the progression of the club over the last two-and-a-half-years."
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 14-07-2025
Ipswich Town have signed Dutch midfielder Azor Matusiwa from Rennes for an undisclosed fee and brought in Reims defender Cedric Kipre on a season-long loan.
Matusiwa, 27, has agreed a four-year deal at Portman Road following 29 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes last season, scoring one goal.
He began his career in the Ajax youth system in his native Netherlands before spells at De Graafschap and Groningen. He joined Reims in 2021 and then Rennes in last year's January transfer window.
Kipre, meanwhile, has plenty of experience of English football with Wigan, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City - the latter a loan spell in 2022-23.
Cedric Kipre playing for Reims
Image source,Rex Features
Image caption,
Cedric Kipre began his career in the youth set-up at Leicester City
The Ivory Coast international, 28, made 28 appearances for Reims last season after joining them from West Brom.
The Ligue 2 club said the loan agreement with Ipswich includes an option to buy.
"I spoke with the manager and I really liked what he said about the way he wants to work," Kipre told the Ipswich website. "He wants to work hard – I also want to work hard."
Following their relegation from the Premier League, the Tractor Boys begin the new Championship season with an away game against Birmingham City on Friday, 8 August.
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 24-07-2025
Ipswich Town have signed former England, Aston Villa and Manchester United full-back Ashley Young on a one-year deal.
Young, who turned 40 earlier this month, was released by Everton at the end of last season.
He has made 750 club appearances in a career which began with his debut for Watford in 2003. Young also won 39 caps for England.
"Ashley has had a fantastic career and his achievements speak for themselves," boss Kieran McKenna told the club website., external
"He has maintained an extremely high level of professionalism and competitiveness through his career and he is still playing at a very good level.
"We feel his leadership and experience will be valuable to the group this season and he is very hungry to contribute on and off the pitch."
Ipswich begin life back in the Championship with a visit to Birmingham City on Friday, 8 August.
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 08-08-2025
Ipswich Town have re-signed Napoli midfielder Jens Cajuste on a season-long loan.
Cajuste, 25, has returned to Portman Road after spending the 2024-25 Premier League campaign on loan at the club.
He was part of the side relegated to the Championship and made 30 appearances in the top flight, starting 25 of those games.
Sweden international Cajuste told the club's website: "From what I have seen the Championship is like war and one of the toughest leagues in the world, so that's a challenge I am really excited about."
Cajuste scored one goal for Town in that Premier League campaign, against Nottingham Forest, and it was named the league's goal of the month for March.
He has 25 caps for Sweden and was part of their Euro 2020 squad.
"Being at the club last season was one of the best experiences of my professional career, especially in terms of camaraderie and team spirit, as well as working under an incredible manager who I have the highest level of respect for," he added.
Kieran McKenna's side begin their Championship season with a trip to newly-promoted Birmingham City on Friday (20:00 BST).
RE: Ipswich news - themaclad - 29-08-2025
Ipswich Town have signed Darnell Furlong from West Bromwich Albion in a deal worth £4m and also brought in striker Ivan Azon on a season-long loan from Italian club Como.
Right-back Furlong, 29, spent the past six years at The Hawthorns and has started every Championship game this season for the unbeaten Baggies.
The long-throw specialist was Albion's longest-serving player after the retirement of Kyle Bartley.
Ipswich have further strengthened a defence already bolstered by the arrival of veteran Ashley Young from Everton on a free transfer in the summer.
Furlong, who has signed a deal until 2028, adds to a lengthy list of ex-West Brom players at Portman Road, joining Alex Palmer, Conor Townsend, Cedric Kipre, Dara O'Shea and David Button.
"It's a real privilege to be here," Furlong told the Ipswich Town website., external
"I've had a look around and I'm really excited and intrigued by the ambition of the club, which is the main reason I wanted to come here.
"I'm looking forward to a new challenge and to kicking on and I can't wait to get started. Ipswich is a club sending out a real signal of intent and to be a part of that is exciting."
Spaniard Azon, 22, joined Como in January from Real Zaragoza.
"It feels amazing to join the club," he said.
"I feel proud and grateful to be here in Ipswich. It's a big club with a really big history and I want to work hard and help the team, making the fans proud."
Ipswich Town have completed the signing of midfielder Marcelino Nunez from East Anglia rivals Norwich City for a reported £10m.
The Chile international spent three years at Carrow Road, making 119 appearances, the last in a 2-1 win at Portsmouth on 16 August, a game in which he had to go off with an ankle injury.
He is the first player to move from Norwich to Ipswich - who are both in the Championship this season - since goalkeeper Andy Marshall in 2001 and has agreed a four-year contract.
Explaining the decision to sell, Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper said that taking everything into consideration, they believed the deal was in the "best interests" of the club.
"It goes without saying, this is a significant transfer for all parties involved. We absolutely understand the feeling and sentiment from our supporters at this time, and this was of course an extremely difficult decision for us to take," he added.
"We are committed to making what we feel are the best possible decisions for our football club, assessing all factors in the round, in both the short, medium and long term.
"Of the possible scenarios and outcomes that this situation has presented, we believe this is the one that leaves the club in the best position."
Nunez's contract with Norwich was due to expire at the end of the current season, when he could have left for nothing.
He scored the winning goal in the most recent East Anglian derby in April 2024 and former keeper Marshall - who made the same move - has warned he can expect a tough reception from Canaries fans in future.
The two teams will meet for the first time this season in a 12:00 kick-off at Ipswich's Portman Road ground on Sunday 5 October.
And the Tractor Boys may look to him to fill the midfield fulcrum role previously held by Sam Morsy, who led them to back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024 but left for Kuwait SC in July.
The signing of Nunez follows Thursday's arrivals of West Brom full-back Darnell Furlong and striker Ivan Azon, on loan from Italian club Como.
Direct moves between two rivals rare
Apart from Marshall, instances of high-profile players moving directly between the two East Anglian rivals have been comparatively rare over the years.
Winger Clive Woods was a member of Bobby Robson's highly successful Ipswich team that won the FA Cup in 1978, making over 260 appearances before moving to their Norfolk rivals two years later.
John Deehan was a free-scoring striker for Norwich in the early 1980s, contributing 70 goals for the club, but then moved to Ipswich in an exchange deal which also involved midfielder Trevor Putney.
More recently, midfielder Liam Gibbs played one league game for Ipswich before joining Norwich for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2021.
Others to have played for both clubs, albeit not consecutively, include striker Keith Bertschin, goalkeeper Clive Baker and winger Louie Donowa.
Former England centre-forward Joe Royle played for Norwich from 1980-82 before becoming Ipswich manager 20 years later, while ex-Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert had spells in charge of both clubs.