Town have confirmed the signing of striker Leon Best on a one-year deal with an option for a further season. Yesterday, TWTD revealed that the 29-year-old was in talks with the Blues regarding a deal having caught manager Mick McCarthy's eye while on trial.

“Leon did well last week. I was impressed,” manager Mick McCarthy told the club website.

“He knows this league. He’s got that physical presence and he will add to the options we have got up front. We are delighted to have him here.”

Best spent time with hometown club Notts County as a youngster before moving to Southampton's youth set-up from the Magpies, his close friend David McGoldrick later making the same switch.

The pair were both in the Saints U18s side the Blues defeated in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final.

Best, who is 6ft 1in tall, subsequently moved on to QPR (loan), Sheffield Wednesday (three loans), Yeovil (loan), Bournemouth (loan), Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Derby (loan) and Brighton (loan) before joining Rotherham in November 2015.

Last season he scored four goals in 10 starts and six sub appearances for the Millers and netted against the Blues in their 1-0 victory at Portman Road in March. Having been released by the South Yorkshire club at the end of 2015/16, he had been in talks with League One Port Vale.

He has won seven full Ireland caps in addition to making appearances at U17, U19 and U21 levels.

Best's recruitment is likely to be the start of a busy couple of days at Portman Road with the Blues looking to add to their squad before Wednesday's 11pm deadline.

Burnley's Michael Kightly is understood to be close to sealing a move, while Town are also keen on his Clarets team-mate Lukas Jutkiewicz as McCarthy looks to find a like-for-like replacement for Daryl Murphy, who joined Newcastle over the weekend.

Photos: Action Images/ITFC

jcITFC added 12:10 - Aug 30 Every fan of Best's former clubs are laughing at us for this deal on social media. I hope he really does prove them wrong but what has happened to the day we could actually sign a young up and coming striker? Signing a player should come with excitement, not scepticism
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emergencylime added 12:13 - Aug 30 You're very welcome, Besty. Judging by the Millers pic in the headline, he'll be wearing the number 50 shirt...our last number 50 was a success (when he wasn't being hacked down).
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brian_a_mul added 12:20 - Aug 30 Good player when fit, welcome and best of luck fitness wise. A good finisher and adds a real threat in front of goal.
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BigHibbs added 12:25 - Aug 30 Always back a new signing , so many games he's featured in have come from the bench, which makes his goal record look a little average. But I think this is a cracking signing in that we know he's not on much money and it's only for a year. If he bags 10 he will get another year , welcome aboard Leon
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OldClactonBlue added 12:26 - Aug 30 We'll see what happens before 11pm tomorrow, but you don't get the impression that the club is very serious about mounting a promotion push!
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BackTheBlues added 12:29 - Aug 30 This is not Murphy's replacement... first of all! Leon scores goals! But attitude is questionable - but we know with Mick and Cameron Stewart, Paul Taylor - we don't have bad attitude players at this club - interesting to see! He's Quick - didn't realise he was 6ft 1 - definitely a bonus! And he knows this league! Here's hoping he can pitch in with near 10 goals and we get another striker!

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BigHibbs added 12:29 - Aug 30 Going on up to a spirit in the sky , where I'm gunna go when I die , when I die any they lay me to rest I'm gunna go on the pis* with Leon best
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Kirbmeister added 12:32 - Aug 30 To the moaners - assuming we have a bit of cash to spend, name an available class striker who would be prepared to sign for town as opposed to all the other clubs also looking for a striker? Not a name plucked from thin air of someone who's not on the transfer list.
2

Manchesterblue3 added 12:32 - Aug 30 It is difficult to be excited with this signing given his track record, however if anyone can get the best (pardon the pun) out of him, it is MM and I wish him all the best with us .... (I'll stop now)....
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oldbri added 12:36 - Aug 30 Welcome to ITFC Leon but I hope you are not reading all the negative comments.
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couldbebetter added 12:38 - Aug 30 The sad decline of our once great club continues.
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Blandford added 12:39 - Aug 30 Welcome Leon. I know many will disagree, but I believe he will become a good addition to what is an understrength squad. Experience at this level, with a bit of height and capable of scoring. Maybe we might be able to find the net from corners a bit more often than we seem to manage. Hopefully he is the first of many ti join us over the next couple of days.
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planetblue_2011 added 12:41 - Aug 30 If McGoldrick hurry's up & gets fit this could be a good choice upfront, Best & McGoldrick. They were mates at saints so hopefully still know each other's game. Still hoping Pitman will get more game time, even playing Sears as striker would give us good forward options. Still keeping my fingers crossed on the Burnley two.
1

goat_man added 12:44 - Aug 30 I'm always a little uneasy when a player gets signed for experience because it all depends on what experience he has to offer. It seems to me that he is a player that has been moved on from a whole range of clubs at this level for failing to score and therefore is this really beneficial experience to the team? xx
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groundhog added 12:45 - Aug 30 I remember the majority were less than inspired by Murphy when he signed and had been a bit of a journey man, so let's give best a dozen games in a town shirt before lambasting
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Jack27 added 12:52 - Aug 30 MM signed McGoldrick in a similar situation and (along with TC) transformed him. Murphy wasn't the player he was before MM & TC signed him either. They have a good record. They know the signs to look for. A manager and a coach can be a reason the player didn't work for a club and why he does work for another. Have a little faith and don't judge too quickly. You don't always need millions to sign a good player.

5

grim09 added 12:52 - Aug 30 Happy with this as long as we still get someone in to replace Murph. Best is a decent backup - he has plenty of experience, is likely on relatively cheap wages and it's only a 1 year deal. MM and TC have already proven they know how to get the best out of signings like this.
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runningout added 12:55 - Aug 30 Thought the idea was to get out of this league via the top end... We are officially a joke. Those that think otherwise are living in a smiley happy world that doesn't exist
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Alfie added 12:58 - Aug 30 Not enthused BUT I'm not a football manager and MM is and that will do for me. Good luck Leon, bang a few in for ITFC.
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acefromspace added 12:58 - Aug 30 Great - we now sign Rotherham rejects !
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planetblue_2011 added 12:58 - Aug 30 Also welcome to ITFC Leon think u will do a good job for us. He has good Pace, power, plus he's a good finisher⚽️
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cornishblu added 12:58 - Aug 30 12 clubs , 269 appearances 58 goals....one in every 5 games....means we will get 9 goals out of him this season .....not the replacement that shouts success. ...but all the same we could get one Murphy esc 27 goal season out of him and then sell him for £3m ...lets hope so COYB
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cornishblu added 13:03 - Aug 30 Kibmeister....your comment is self fulfilling yet you don't see it...."moaners " question where our club is going due to style of play and v strange decisions ....this causes us to moan ...yet you then question who decent enough would come to our club ....as though that then means we should stop moaning and be happy with what we have ...........we moan because where we are currently is not the once aspirational club we used to be and one that players won't come to ....that's why we moan .....surely you argue against yourself !!???

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ArnieM added 13:07 - Aug 30 WELCOME LEON, the moaners on here will be the first to boo you and the last to cheer you when you score those goals.Sorry our Club has so many idiots.
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dawoolah added 13:08 - Aug 30 Welcome to ITFC Leon. Can't think of a better way to silence all the moaners than a couple of early goals. Best of luck fella!
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