Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed new signing Ryan Stevenson chose the Blues ahead of a number of other clubs - including Championship sides - some offering longer term deals prior to agreeing to an initial 18-month contract at Portman Road on Saturday. The Blues agreed a £50,000 fee with Hearts on Friday with the 27-year-old’s contract including an option to extend his deal in the summer.

Jewell said: “We’ve been aware of him for quite a while and we thought this might be a situation to get him away from Hearts.

“I know [former Hearts manager] Jim Jefferies well and I spoke to him and one or two other people in Scotland, including the Scotland manager Craig Levein, and they speak highly of him, so we’re happy to have him.

“He could have gone to a couple of other clubs on longer contracts but he was keen to come here and prove himself.”

The Blues boss says the one-time Ayr United and St Johnstone man will add goals to the Blues’ midfield: “He’s got a goal in him, he’s an attacking midfield player.

“He can play in a number of positions and played up front for Hearts on a couple of occasions we saw him, but primarily we see him as a midfield player.”

Stevenson himself added: "The move was a no-brainer for me really. When a club the size of Ipswich shows interest in you then you don't really need to think twice and I was keen to come down here.

"There are some really good players in the squad here, some who have played in the Premier League, and I want to come in, play my part and try and help the side push up the table."

The paperwork is complete on the deal with international clearance received and Stevenson, who will wear the number 16 shirt, could face West Ham tomorrow, although having been out of action due to a wage dispute with Hearts since December is short on match fitness and may not be considered quite yet.

Photo: Action Images

Lanky added 16:29 - Jan 30 and alas, like you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, you shouldn't judge a player by his price!
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TractorBoy666 added 16:30 - Jan 30 Seems ambitious enough. Still need Ward and Pearce though.
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TractorBoy added 16:30 - Jan 30 Good luck!
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E3Blue added 16:31 - Jan 30 'We had been aware of him for a while' - Then if he hasnt played since the 17th December, why was he not brought in at the start of the window?
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DiamondGezzer added 16:34 - Jan 30 This boy could do a good job tomorrow, adds a bit of bite [ from the bench ], something we tend to lack.
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suffolkpoker added 16:34 - Jan 30 i wonder if part of the contract details he had to say that. on a more serious note, sounds like a breath of fresh air, wants to play for us.
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bluebud added 16:35 - Jan 30 exactly E3..... ...he's hardly going to say how shocked he was to get a championship side and the resultant wage hike regardless that his new owner is even stranger than the one at Hearts. None the less I hope he smashes it and quickly replaces Leadboots.
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rogie_dog added 16:35 - Jan 30 Welcome to Ipswich Ryan. Very best of luck mate.
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cooper4england added 16:35 - Jan 30 £5 first goal scorer for tomorrow
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hampstead_blue added 16:37 - Jan 30 He looks hard! Some Scottish steel in our midfield. Can't wait to see him in action.
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cooper4england added 16:37 - Jan 30 Second thoughts... sounds like he is not playing. Gambling....mug's game!!!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:40 - Jan 30 As stated somewhere on TWTD previously: Welcome to PR! I think he could be good for us. Just hope he doesn't get sent off against Wet Sham in his eagerness to impress.
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CornardBlue added 16:43 - Jan 30 Good luck to the lad, from piture looks as though he can look after himself which is just what we need in our team. COYB
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Big_Foot_Blue added 16:44 - Jan 30 Welcome Ryan and really hope you are much better for us than our previous number 16!
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Sindre94 added 16:46 - Jan 30 GET IN
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jas0999 added 16:48 - Jan 30 Best of luck to him BUT where is the CB or two???
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Garv added 16:56 - Jan 30 If we play him tomorrow or put him on the bench and he plays poorly because of fitness there will be uproar ("terrible signing etc."). Probably best to leave him out. Lee-Barret Edwards Sonko Delaney Cresswell Martin Drury Hyam Carson JET Scotland Bench: Wright, Smith, Ainsley, Leadbitter, and the forgotten man Chopra. Can't see us signing anyone before then I'm afraid, maybe not at all, not exactly much time to get a deal done between the end of the game and the 11 o'clock deadline is there?

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Bluewelshman added 17:21 - Jan 30 I'm getting p***ed off with the amount of people already slagging off Ryan before he has even kicked a ball for us. I can remember a number of players who cost us next to nothing who were solid enough, Simon Milton for £5000, Chris Swailes £150000 (forgetting his debut OG) and Fabian Wilnis £200000. Good luck and welcome Ryan, I hope you'll be a great success here. COYB

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billlm added 17:27 - Jan 30 wheres the rest oops
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glm86 added 17:34 - Jan 30 Hopefully fill in gap where andrews was as feel we been missing him in midfield and ryan sounds like right candidate to do that. I got feeling this could be best signing PJ has made( fingers crossed)
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 17:39 - Jan 30 i wouldn't pay much attention to the price, afterall hearts are in a horrible financial situation and so i'm pretty sure he is worth much more than £50k...lets hope he does well! now here's to bringing in ward and pearce!
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glm86 added 17:50 - Jan 30 Hopefully fill in gap where andrews was as feel we been missing him in midfield and ryan sounds like right candidate to do that. I got feeling this could be best signing PJ has made( fingers crossed)
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rcman225 added 18:11 - Jan 30 sounds like a good player :D
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Karlosfandangal added 18:16 - Jan 30 E3 Could be that Ipswich were in for Andrews and have now given up and looked at other targets one of them being Stevenson
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MickMillsTash added 18:31 - Jan 30 The last 12 months have shown that attitude is as important as ability. Stevenson comes wanting to prove himself so will surely have the right attitude and if he can get beyond the front 2 or even into the area to support then he will ceratinly add to the squad. Might be worth bringing him on for 20 minutes tomorrow when legs are tiring and see what he can do- I've seen our other options.

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