IPSWICH TOWN SIGN MIDFIELDER KALVIN PHILLIPS FROM MANCHESTER CITY ON SEASON-LONG LOAN
Ipswich announced on Friday that the club had signed Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on a season-long loan. Phillips, 28, was reportedly interested with the project after having discussions with Head Coach Kieran McKenna and Chairman Mark Ashton.
“This is a day I’ve been waiting a number of weeks for,” said Phillips. “I’ve had some great conversations with players I know here and also with the manager, who I have obviously heard a lot about. I’m excited to be here and be part of his team, playing how he likes to play the game.”
“The conversations with Kieran McKenna and Mark Ashton have been really good and I followed Ipswich season’s closely last year, so, know the journey the club has been on. And it’s a great story which I’m now excited to be a part of.”
Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admitted the club thought Phillips “would not have the minutes he deserves” hence the move to Ipswich. “He [Phillips] decided to go there,” said Guardiola. “He has to have minutes. We thought he would not have the minutes he deserves. He has the chance in the future to maybe come here.”
“I want to play as many games as possible, enjoy football again,” said Phillips, who has endured an injury-marred two-year period since his £45 million move to East Manchester from Leeds United in summer of 2022. “And help the team win as many games as possible in the Premier League.”
Phillips has played just 6 games for Manchester City and had to move to West Ham United on loan back in January to try to get his career back on track. However, he only managed 10 appearances for the Hammers before returning to the Etihad at season’s end. Phillips chose Ipswich over other Premier League clubs and City are understood to be paying a portion of his wages during the season.
“We are very happy to have Kalvin here and he is a fantastic signing for the football club,” said Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna. “He is of course a high-caliber, experienced midfielder who has played at the highest levels of the game, in both club and international football. He’s had a fantastic career up until this point and we believe he is going to be a big addition to the group.”
“Kalvin has much to offer us in terms of his qualities both on and off the ball, and he is a really humble and likeable character. He has been a key member of a newly-promoted team in the Premier League before and of course made a big impression for Leeds United during that period.”
“Like all players who come here we want to try and help them improve, whether that’s a younger player or one with more experience. That’s a big part of our culture and we’re sure Kalvin can make some big steps with us to help him and the Club have a really positive season.”
According to multiple reports, Ipswich have also agreed a deal with Napoli to sign midfielder Jens Cajuste on loan with an option to make the move permanent in the summer.
IPSWICH SIGN CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING MACHINE SAMMIE SZMODICS FOR £10 MILLION FROM BLACKBURN ROVERS
Ipswich also signed last season’s Championship top goal scorer Sammie Szmodics from Blackburn on a deal that’s believed to be worth up to £10 million including add-ons.
The Colchester-born Irish international scored 27 goals for the Riversiders last season and has already netted three this campaign, scoring against Derby in Blackburn’s 4-2 win last weekend and then twice in a 6-1 win at Stockport in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
“I am delighted to be here as an Ipswich Town player,” said Szmodics. “There’s always been interest since I was a kid, but it just felt right this time with the challenge of the Premier League.”
“After speaking to a couple of the lads, including [Blackburn midfielder] Lewis Travis who was here last season, they just pushed me and said that I need to come and work under this manager, which is something I can’t wait to do.”
“It’s every boy’s dream to play in the Premier League and I’ve always said to my friends, family and agents that I’ll get to the top one day. There’s nothing more I want than to score at Portman Road for Ipswich Town. I am over the moon to be here and looking forward to the season ahead.”
The 28-year-old striker has proven to be one of the best scorers in the country over the past couple of years, improving his goal tally from just 21 league goals in 79 appearances at Peterborough United to 33 goals in the same number of games at Blackburn. An experienced center forward, Szmodics should be a key attacking threat for Ipswich in their new era in the Premier League.
Ipswich Head Coach Kieran McKenna said about the signing: “We think Sam brings a lot of different qualities to the squad and is an experienced player who has worked extremely hard over the years to improve his game and to become more and more effective as a player. That was shown last year with the fantastic season he had at Blackburn with the goals he scored throughout the campaign, including one at Portman Road of course.”
“He has a real feel for scoring goals and works so hard for the team both on and off the ball. He knows many of the players here, as well as some of the staff and has ties to the club and to the area. This is a move that works for all parties and he has rightfully earned the chance to play in the Premier League, which I know he is delighted to do at this club. His arrival gives us another really versatile forward player who can operate in different roles and systems, giving us a big goal threat and plenty of other qualities to add to the team.”
Ipswich are also in talks with Chelsea to acquire talented striker Armando Broja on a season-long loan after having brought in Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Jacob Greaves, Liam Delap, Arijanet Muric and Conor Townsend this summer.
ED SHEERAN NAMED AS MINORITY SHAREHOLDER OF IPSWICH TOWN
Rounding out a busy couple of days for the Tractor Boys, who after committing to McKenna earlier in the summer, announced on Thursday that pop star and lifetime Ipswich fan, Ed Sheeran, had acquired a minority stake in the club.
Per Sky Sports News, Sheeran has bought a 1.4% stake in the club but declined taking a board seat. Sheeran announced his acquisition by writing on Instagram: “It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity. It’s such a joy to be a fan of Ipswich Town. There are ups and downs but football is all about taking the highs and the lows.”
“I’m not a voting shareholder or a board member, this is just me putting some money in to the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don’t get onto me with signing suggestions or tactics to play! I’m excited for the Premier League to start this weekend. Let’s go!”
Sheeran has been the front-of-shirt sponsor of the men’s and women’s team at Ipswich since 2021. The 33-year-old singer acquired his shares through Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
“It’s been really nice [having Ed Sheeran as a stakeholder],” said Kieran McKenna. “He’s been ever present, really, since I’ve been at the club over the last few years. So, I know he’s, he’s pretty much a lifelong supporter, he’s very passionate about his home country and his home football club.”
“And it’s wonderful to have his support, of course, he’s a global superstar, one of the most talented musicians in the world. To have him endorsing and backing everything we do, of course, to have his sponsorship and now as a part owner as well, it’s a great boost for the football club. It brings us on to another scale and we’re really grateful.”
Ipswich begin their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on Saturday in the early kickoff at 11:30 BST.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Xanaph. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.