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

coolcat added 15:14 - Aug 30 Welcome to Ipswich Leon. Great to have you on board. :)
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Swn98 added 15:16 - Aug 30 Welcome and good luck.I notice a few posters questioning the length of contract do they really matter anymore Murphy had 2 years to go and left it seems to me these days the only players that benefit from a long contract are those that are not much good then we have to pay them off to get rid.
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braveblue added 15:51 - Aug 30 More money wasted.
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Elizabeth added 16:02 - Aug 30 Players coming in thick and fast now ! Hoping they will be successful at PR !
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jas0999 added 16:46 - Aug 30 I wish him well. However, certainly be disappointed if we don't sign another striker as replacement for Murphy for a significant fee.
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MarcusITFC23 added 16:54 - Aug 30 Forgive me if i don't jump up and down with excitement with this signing, but i personally think Leon Best isn't the answer to our goal scoring options. But like always i will welcome him to Ipswich with the opinion that he'll settle really well. !
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happybeingblue added 17:21 - Aug 30 Agree contracts dont mean nowt in the football world these days, always thought this guy was decent and hope mick can get the best out of him..and then he can get back in the ireland squad as well, mick only signed him cos hes irish ha ha , but seriously welcome Leon to suffolk and itfc .
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fifeblue added 17:37 - Aug 30 Wilshere is available on Loan from Arsenal!
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chepstowblue added 17:57 - Aug 30 I think we'll be pleasantly surprised.Powerful player who can be a real handful on his day and though he doesn't ger a great deal of positive press,under a disciplinarian like MM I think we could see the best of him.
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Seasider added 18:05 - Aug 30 chepstowblue.I also hope Mick gets the best out of him,like you said;but I am also conscious that he could end up like Paul Taylor or Chopra. We shall see;but I wish him success at ITFC, as us fans and the club will benefit if he comes good!
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Seasider added 18:08 - Aug 30 ps Hope the picture of him above was not taken in the Spring when Rotherham played us,as he is wearing gloves?
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chorltonskylineblue added 23:38 - Aug 30 An ex-Irish international in his late twenties with seemingly no hope of playing internationally again. Been about a bit, quite a few loans. Signed on a free. Sound familiar? Come on Mick n Terry, work your magic and get the best out of this fella (no pun intended).
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