Town have announced the signing of former Rotherham striker Freddie Ladapo on a three-year deal once his Millers deal is up at the end of June.

Adding firepower to the squad has been high on the Blues' priorities during the close season with Kieran McKenna’s side having been unable to turn dominant displays into goals on a number of occasions during 2021/22.

“I’ve had a long day doing paperwork, the medical and meeting people, but I am so pleased to have signed here,” Ladapo told iFollow Ipswich.

“Everyone has been so good to me already and shown me around the training ground and stadium.

“The chance to come and play for this club, with the history and fanbase it has, is brilliant for me. I am buzzing.

“The manager has plans and goals here, and this feels like the perfect fit for me.”

Manager McKenna said: “We are really happy to have secured Freddie’s services.

“He is a proven goalscorer at this level but beyond that he brings qualities to the side that we think will be important for us.

“Freddie has a good physical stature, the ability to run beyond the defence, and is good in one-on-one situations. He’s a signing that we think can be really important for us.”

Ladapo, 29, was a youth player with Southend and Colchester before making his first league appearances with the U’s in 2012/13 and spent stints on loan at Thurrock, Chelmsford, Bishop Stortford, Woking and Nuneaton while with the North Essex side.

Spells with Kidderminster, Hayes & Yeading (loan), Grays (loan) and Margate followed before a big move to Premier League Crystal Palace in March 2016.

The 6ft 2in tall striker joined Oldham and then Shrewsbury on loan and left the Eagles in January 2018 having made only two senior sub appearances to join Southend.

Six months later, he moved on to Plymouth, before he signed for Rotherham for a reported £500,000 in the summer of 2019, the South Yorkshire club’s record signing.

Romford-born Ladapo scored 41 goals in 78 starts and 45 sub appearances in his three years with the Millers, 17 in his first in League One, nine in the Championship and 15 in League One last season.

He was a member of the team which won the Papa John's Trophy by beating Sutton United 4-2 after extra-time at Wembley in April.

In January, Rotherham announced that Ladapo had handed in a transfer request with Sheffield Wednesday having shown interest.

A fortnight ago, the Millers announced that they had released the striker despite having an option to keep him for a further season having left him out of their final three games of their promotion campaign.

Ladapo becomes Town’s first signing of the summer and manager McKenna’s first permanent senior recruit since he took over at Portman Road in December.

Photos: ITFC

gramps added 19:17 - May 30 A quick count suggests we are, counting youth teams, the EIGHTEENTH club he has played for.! Do you think he will last 3 years here?
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bedsitfc added 19:21 - May 30 I know nothing about him (like most on here) Lots of tap in goals but scoring goals needs to be added onto team work. I am sure McKenna has got it right! Looking forward to seeing his all round game and hopeful for some exciting play.
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blues1 added 19:25 - May 30 Bangalore Blues. Typical comment of some1 who hasn't read the story before commenting. Nothing to do with rotherham deeming him not good enough for the championship. He's out of contract, and as he put in a transfer request in January, was him who wanted to leave.
3

Saxonblue74 added 19:25 - May 30 Hoping we've not just signed an "attitude"!
1

tempzzzz added 19:26 - May 30 Good player in the air, wins a lot of close range headers so hopefully this can help fix our poor set piece record. Get Celina back in and they'll work well together. Happy with this.
4

Pendejo added 19:28 - May 30 Whilst not by any means comparing them, but, Ian Rush was a (very good) tap in merchant, all about the timing. Welcome, all you need to do is hit 30 goals and most of the fan Base will be on your side...
1

Bazza8564 added 19:28 - May 30 Good first signing, we are gearing up to KMs requirements rather than Cooks, all feels good to me but so much mor to come
3

Bazza8564 added 19:28 - May 30 Good first signing, we are gearing up to KMs requirements rather than Cooks, all feels good to me but so much mor to come
1

Rimsy added 19:29 - May 30 Welcome. Someone with a bit of presense in the box, getting those scrappy goals we never seem to get.
4

Ryorry added 19:33 - May 30 All those saying "just tap in goals" really need to watch the two video clips on this very page! And he won't be our only striker signing, I think that's pretty obvious.
3

blues1 added 19:40 - May 30 Boss man. He scored 15 this season, not 11. And 41 in 78 appearances is a good amount by any striker.
2

Veggie added 19:44 - May 30 Lineker was a tap in merchant. Not a bad career.
2

NickITFC added 19:47 - May 30 I must be watching different videos to some. I think he looks a good fit for our setup personally
2

brassy added 19:49 - May 30 good luck lad coybs
1

ITFC_Esquire added 19:50 - May 30 For those interested in the stats, a goal involvement every 148 minutes in league 1 last season with the vast majority of those (11/14) being goals. Like others have said, looks to have an eye for goal, be physical and technically sound so I'm positive on this one. Also, unlike years gone by I feel like players can exceed expectation at Ipswich. McKenna made Jackson into a player out of nowhere by using his strengths, maybe we finally have a manager and coaching set up that will result in “I wish we hadn't let him go to Ipswich, look what he's doing now”. Trust the process. COYB.

5

Bergholtblue added 19:51 - May 30 No one has seen him play in a blue shirt, yet some are writing him off already! Perhaps we should have signed Mitrovitch from Fulham! I'll pass judgement after 6 or 7 games into next season. In the meantime, I welcome him as an Ipswich Town player and wish him all the best.
6

RobITFC added 19:53 - May 30 Certainly know how to poach a goal , plus good in the air too. Just the kind of player we need , well done ITFC and welcome Freddie.
2

Veggie added 19:54 - May 30 Just watched the second video (Plymouth) and I think this is more how he will play for us in our system, breaking away from the defence with his pace and scoring one on ones (something Norwood was virtually inescapable of). Could be an exciting signing.
1

brassy added 19:55 - May 30 i also feel some of our young players can break into the 1st team setup this season
2

billlm added 19:57 - May 30 Hell of a lot of goals where it hurts inside the six yard box very impressive,
3

ThaiBlue added 20:21 - May 30 Had more clubs than tiger woods but lets give him a chance time will tell good luck to freddie.
0

ArnieM added 20:21 - May 30 Do we know why he wanted to leave Rotherham ( when promotion was on the cards )… I know players have fall outs and don't get in at times with their club , but just wondered what the problem was for him to want away …
1

Gforce added 20:57 - May 30 Has plenty of pace and looks much more of a predator than Bonne,Norwood or Pigott. I'm sure he'll score more goals than our previous Freddie !!
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graham2408 added 21:08 - May 30 What a "pest"! Now let us find a couple more "pests" like him. Good left foot, good right foot, good in the air, grafter. What's not to like?
2

Stato added 21:10 - May 30 @blues1 he has 11 league goals which is all we are interested in
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