New keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is aiming to be Town’s number one having signed a two-year deal with an option for a further season earlier today, the Blues and Notts County having agreed an undisclosed fee likely to be in the low hundred thousands.

“I’m no different to any player. I want to play games,” the former Poland U20 international told Ipswich Player.

“I know it won’t be easy but I will be training as hard as I can and pushing as hard as I can to be the number one here.”

The former Southampton man confirmed that, as TWTD reported at the time, Town showed interest in him a year ago: “I’m really happy to be an Ipswich Town player.

“It’s been going on for a while and when that happens, you can get worried sometimes but I was always confident it would get done.

“I worked with Malcolm [Webster, Town’s keeper-coach] at Southampton and Hearts [where he spent time on trial in 2005] and it’s great to be back working with him again. He’s a great guy and probably the best coach I have worked with.

“He rang me a year ago and said Ipswich were watching me and would keep an eye on me through the season.

“I watched their results as well and then Malcolm rang me just before the end of last season and said Ipswich were interested. As soon as I heard they definitely wanted me, my mind was made up straight away.”

Bialkowski previously spent a short spell on loan with Town in 2009 from Southampton without making a first-team appearance. He was red-carded during his reserves debut in a game at Luton when he handled the ball outside the area with the Hatters bearing down on goal. The 6ft 4in tall Braniewo-born keeper started his career in his home country with Olimpia ElblÄ…g and Górnik Zabrze before moving to Southampton, where he worked with Webster and ex-Blues boss George Burley, in January 2006.

Bialkowski is likely to have some involvement in Wednesday’s friendly against West Ham at Portman Road (KO 7.45pm). Manager Mick McCarthy may opt to play a different side in each half as he did at Shelbourne on Saturday.

Photos/YouTube clip: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 16:19 - Jul 15 This feels so much better than previous loan signings like Stockdale or Henderson with recall clauses, Bart is our goalkeeper and we can get behind him and hope he does well for years to come. He's a good age for a goalkeeper, should have the right hunger stepping up from League One, and is highly rated by the Notts County fans from what I read. Our last two signings from League One were Cresswell and McGoldrick, were't they? They didn't do badly!

8

Karlosfandangal added 16:19 - Jul 15 Oooooooh a record signing......smash's the £20k we paid for Docherty
0

BigHibbs added 16:28 - Jul 15 We got mcgoldrick from forrest mate
0

Langdon_Blue added 16:39 - Jul 15 “Malcolm rang me just before the end of last season and said Ipswich were interested”..... isn't that considered 'tapping up a player' and therefore against the rules?!?
1

TimmyH added 16:54 - Jul 15 Personally feel he'll be no 'halfway house' keeper...he'll either be a great acquisition or a disaster to unfold, saying that wish you all the best Bart and hopefully it will be the former.
2

floridaboy added 16:55 - Jul 15 Is that a wig Phil is wearing in the photo above. Good signing IMHO, better keeper than Gerken. All we need now is a goal scoring striker - bothers me that McGoldrick is still not fit enough with only a few weeks to go - and we could just have a very good season.
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 16:59 - Jul 15 Langdon, true but he was plying his trade at Coventry in L1 on loan and looked for all the world like he would head there until we came in. Dunno if Bart is any god but I'm sure we can teach him to catch if that's his weakness. Notts county fans seem gutted. He here, he wanted to come here. Mick wanted him here..... 2 plus 2=
1

nysully added 17:26 - Jul 15 @BigHibbs - obviously Mark was thinking he was playing in League One racking up the goals for Coventry but yes, he was a Forest player
0

Mark added 17:39 - Jul 15 @BigHibbs - True, but he was playing in League One for Coventry. I suppose you could argue too that Gerken, Anderson and Berra were signed from League One clubs, although we signed them before they played a match at that level after relegation.
0

StuartBrett8 added 17:53 - Jul 15 Welcome to Ipswich, one more piece in the jigsaw :)
3

blueboy1981 added 18:26 - Jul 15 ............ good attitude from the man - in competition of any kind, no one should EVER be satisfied in being anything other than No.1. A prerequisite for success.
2

bluemikey100 added 19:05 - Jul 15 14 clean sheets in 40 games in his first season for county hope he does this again we be promoted
1

pazelle added 19:13 - Jul 15 £20k for Docherty and £100k for Wordsworth (but everyone forgets that) Well happy we've got a goalkeeper sorted!
1

runaround added 19:21 - Jul 15 Welcome Bart
1

MattinLondon added 19:45 - Jul 15 Judging by the response of Notts County Bialkowski seems to be a very good capture. This is the first season in a long long while in which I am looking forward to. Personally I think that the squad is almost there. If Taylor has come back with a much better attitude then his added flair will almost be like a new signing in itself. Im hoping that Wordsworth will also shine as a creative outlet. As well as this I'm hoping that the younger players such as Lawenson, Marriott etc will also be given some chances as well. Here's to a cracking season (hopefully).

3

Tractamatt added 20:06 - Jul 15 Welcome aboard Bart now wonder who we're after next?
1

Tufty added 20:43 - Jul 15 But does he come for crosses and can he catch it. If so he will be much better than Gurken
1

Seasider added 20:55 - Jul 15 So Mick was kidding the other day about not spending any money,think he has done very well with his signings,and this season looks like he will be putting a bit more accent on flair,although of course this must not be at the expense of keeping it tight at the back!Hope Bart will help this. Like many am looking forward a bit more to this season than recently;but am not getting too carried away,as so far just one win against Shelbourn Reserves Will be more of a pointer at the end of August after having played two of last years prem teams.

2

bingboast added 21:38 - Jul 15 Just watched the youtube of Bart's great saves, looking very good, no 1 keeper with skills & goal soppers, welcome to ITFC Bart.
0

Tractorog added 21:41 - Jul 15 "When your Gerkin's not a workin' Shove a Pole in our Goal." Sounds like the advert for a bad porn movie.
2

jonnysuave added 22:11 - Jul 15 He looks like James Anderson, who, rather suspiciously, is also 6ft 4 ins.
0

Steelmonkey added 22:31 - Jul 15 McGoldrick was playing on loan at Coventry, when we got him.
1

DiamondGezzer added 07:20 - Jul 16 Welcome to Ipswich again Bart.
1

GerkensBeard added 07:37 - Jul 16 McGoldrick will be fit enough for the start of the season which mick has already said. He's also said he's now got the balls out with him so it looks like its just getting back to match fitness. He's got a month to do it so hell be fine and raring to go.
0

Slambo added 08:04 - Jul 16 I don't completely object to this signing, but I have to say i'm stunned at the level of negativity directed at Dean Gerken! He's a perfectly good 'keeper! I can't think of a single time last season when he made some calamitous error! I don't think this signing demonstrates particularly good man-management - McCarthy does have a bit or previous in this area. Would have been much better to start breaking in a young understudy behind Gerken... Now, i'm willing to forget the howlers Bialkowski made in the clips posted in another article (remember watching that game and thinking, 'this bloke looks really nervous'), but I would urge everyone to not rate a goalkeeper on his shot stopping ability. Professional goalies are athletes - they can all make good reaction saves. The truly GREAT 'keepers, however, are the ones who get off their line at the right time, manage their box well and have good hands. A cat like reflex save looks good in the sports pages, but it aint what wins you titles...

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls