Ipswich Town is adopting a new transfer strategy as the club prepares for its return to the Premier League. Chairman Mark Ashton stated that the club needs to be “a bit braver” in its approach this time around, a sentiment reflected in the players being pursued. This marks a notable change from their previous recruitment model.
Under former manager Kieran McKenna, who departed on June 10 after guiding the team through three promotions, Ipswich primarily targeted players familiar with English football. During McKenna’s four-and-a-half-year tenure, 32 of the 39 permanent first-team signings were either born or raised in Britain or Ireland, with only two joining directly from European clubs. This approach was successful in helping the club achieve back-to-back promotions, making them the first side in 12 years to do so.
The previous model, which focused on domestic talent, saw the club finish second in the Championship in 2023-24. However, their subsequent season in the Premier League in 2024-25 saw them finish second-bottom with 22 points, 16 adrift of 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Despite this, McKenna maintained that the recruitment strategy was in the club’s “best long-term interests,” a view that has been supported by their immediate return to the top flight.
New Recruitment Focus
With new manager Gary O’Neil now at the helm, there is a clear shift in recruitment strategy. O’Neil emphasized the need to build a competitive side quickly, stating, “Two seasons ago, the club didn’t get anywhere near staying in the division and this time we need to do better.” He added that the club is aiming to “add quality to the squad from different parts of the world” and introduce “different attributes.”
This summer, Ipswich has significantly broadened its search for talent. The club has brought in 10 players for a combined £106.6m, making them the fourth-biggest net spenders in the Premier League so far this summer. The new signings include Emersonn, the first Brazilian to join the club, Sasa Lukic, the first Serbian, and Daizen Maeda, the first Japanese player.
Among the new additions, Maeda and Morocco centre-back Issa Diop were both goalscorers at the World Cup this summer. There are also links to Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso, who played under O’Neil at Strasbourg last season and had a loan spell at Portman Road during the latter half of 2024-25.
Ashton noted that a key lesson from their previous Premier League campaign was the necessity for more athletic players with varied physical attributes. The midfield in 2024-25 reportedly lacked power and ball-winning capabilities. New arrivals like Florentino Luis and Sasa Lukic, both with experience at high levels, are expected to make an immediate impact, especially with Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor uncertain for the opening game due to summer operations.
Squad Building and Financials
The club’s previous £100m summer spending spree brought players like Omari Hutchinson, Jack Clarke, Liam Delap, Dara O’Shea, and Jacob Greaves to Portman Road. These players had performed well in the second tier and were identified for their potential to develop into Premier League performers. Despite heavy spending on transfer fees, Ipswich’s £77m wage bill was the lowest in the Premier League in 2024-25.
This financial restraint, combined with increased TV income and a quick gain from Liam Delap’s move to Chelsea, allowed the club to report a £4m pre-tax profit for the financial year ending in June 2025. The sale of Hutchinson to Nottingham Forest later that summer also provided a financial boost. Players like O’Shea, Clarke, Greaves, and Jaden Philogene, who arrived in January 2025, remained with the team and played significant roles in securing their immediate return to the top flight.
O’Neil also seeks a stronger attacking presence, as no Ipswich player scored more than 10 non-penalty goals in the Championship last season. The club broke its transfer record to sign Brazilian striker Emersonn for an initial £24m. While he fits the desired physical profile, he only established himself as a regular last season at Toulouse, scoring seven goals in 31 appearances, with 22 of those being starts.
Maeda, a forward or winger, had a strong record at Celtic, scoring 79 times in 212 games. The club has also recruited two Dutch goalkeepers, including Kjell Scherpen. With a new manager and a £30m training ground redevelopment nearing completion, this summer is seen as a crucial period for Ipswich.
O’Neil indicated after Saturday’s 3-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano that more player acquisitions are anticipated, stating that the “plan is to do quite a bit more.”
Source: bbc.co.uk
