The anticipation surrounding Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League is palpable as manager Kieran McKenna orchestrates the club’s comeback to top-flight football. After over two decades away from the Premier League, Portman Road is set to witness elite football again, thanks to McKenna’s leadership and the team’s back-to-back promotions. The former Manchester United academy coach has been pivotal in transforming the club’s fortunes, reigniting the hopes and dreams of Ipswich fans.
One of the immediate challenges for Ipswich was retaining McKenna, who had attracted interest from prestigious clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United. However, with his commitment secured, the focus shifted to strengthening the squad. The summer transfer window promises to be an exciting period for Ipswich supporters, with significant movements expected in and out of the club.
In goal, the club faced a setback with the sale of Vaclav Hladky to Celtic for £4.5m. Nevertheless, McKenna quickly addressed this by signing Chelsea’s Jamie Cumming and Eibar’s Luca Zidane, the son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, for a combined £2.5m. These additions are set to bolster the goalkeeping department, ensuring solid competition for the starting spot.
Defensively, Ipswich saw notable departures, including Leif Davis to West Ham for £19m, Axel Tuanzebe to Cadiz for £1.5m, and George Edmundson to Hull City for £500k. To fill these gaps, McKenna brought in experienced defender Paul Dummett from Newcastle on a free transfer and splurged £5m on Internacional’s Argentine right-back Fabricio Bustos. Additionally, Liverpool’s Luke Chambers and Arsenal’s Reuell Walters joined on loan, adding depth and versatility to the backline.
The midfield also experienced significant changes, with Cameron Humphreys moving to Aston Villa for £8m. To reinforce this area, Ipswich acquired Will Hughes from Crystal Palace for £3.5m, Rafael Luis from Benfica for £9m, and Kacper Kozlowski from Brighton for £6m. Sporting Gijon’s Nacho Martin was also signed for £1m, completing a robust midfield lineup designed to compete at the highest level.
In attack, Ipswich added firepower with the signings of Michy Batshuayi and Oli McBurnie on free transfers, following their departures from Fenerbahce and Sheffield United, respectively. The club also signed winger Chiquinho from Wolves for £1m. These additions allowed the club to sell Al Al-Hamadi to Derby County for £2.5m, further balancing the squad’s offensive capabilities.
As Ipswich Town prepares for their Premier League return, the strategic moves in the transfer market demonstrate the club’s ambition and readiness to compete among England’s elite. The upcoming season holds promise for Ipswich supporters, who eagerly await to see their team back in the top flight, ready to challenge and thrive.
