Town have confirmed the signing of Everton forward Nathan Broadhead on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The Blues are understood to have paid £1.5 million for the 24-year-old, the highest fee under Kieran McKenna’s management and since the takeover almost two years ago.

News of Town’s interest in Broadhead, who was on loan at Wigan Athletic until being recalled on Friday, first emerged last week via the local Sunderland media, the Black Cats having also made an offer for their former loan player during this window but not one which was accepted by the Toffeemen.

The former Wales U17, U19, U20 and U21 international watched Saturday’s 4-1 FA Cup victory over Rotherham but with discussions regarding his move continuing over the weekend.

He returned to the club this afternoon to complete the formalities relating to his switch, signing a contract which runs until the summer of 2026.

“I want to help this team get promoted and score goals in the process,” Broadhead told iFollow Ipswich.

“Looking at it from the outside, it’s clear that Kieran McKenna has the team playing some really good football and that’s something that made me want to come here. Under him the team is going places and I will work hard to help.

“I’ve played at Portman Road as an opposition player [last season's 1-1 draw with Sunderland] and it was a hostile place playing for the other team — it was one of the toughest games of my career so far and was very intense. I’m looking forward to being part of it this time in front of the fans.”

McKenna added: “He really fits the profile of what we want to bring to the club and where we want to go.

“He’s a young, talented player physically and technically. He’s very gifted and fits into our playing style very well.

“He’s also at a stage of his career where he feels like it’s time to find a permanent home for his football.

“He’s come to a progressive team and a progressive club. We want to play a certain style of football and will give him opportunities to showcase what he can do.”

Broadhead, who has received two senior Wales call-ups but is yet to make his full international debut, was a youth player with hometown side Bangor City and Wrexham before joining Everton’s academy aged 10.

The 5ft 10in tall frontman has made two senior sub appearances for Everton but has spent most of the last few seasons out on loan.

In 2019/20 he was with Burton, scoring three times in 15 starts and seven sub appearances, then in 2021/22 was with Sunderland, netting 13 goals in 20 starts and seven games from the bench.

Broadhead, who will wear the Town number 33 shirt, had been due to remain with the Latics until the end of the season having scored five goals in 11 starts and 11 sub appearances.

The Blues have now made three signings during the January transfer window following the loan addition of Hirst yesterday and Massimo Luongo’s return on a short-term deal at the end of last week.

Photo: ITFC

warktheline added 22:11 - Jan 9 Those that campaigned against the long dark years under Evans, have undoubtedly been proven correct in doing so…although some still aren't convinced and never will be!..excellent couple of days in regards to recruiting quality players! Well done our owners for backing an exciting and hungry manager, who continues to impress pundits and has managed to bring full houses back to Portman Rd!

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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:12 - Jan 9 Ashton and McKenna take a bow they really don't hang about 👏🏻 You can clearly see us trying to implement what Brighton and Brentford have done past ten odd years bringing young hungry players we can improve and if needs must in the future be sold on for huge profits. The last million pound player was Leif and he must be worth 5 times that already second highest assists in the league from left back. Great business so far. COYB's

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Nomore4 added 22:26 - Jan 9 Great signing along with the other 2. Just Wittacker and McGuinness to go then.
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bluesteal74 added 22:31 - Jan 9 Welcome to ITFC Nathan looking forward to seeing what you can do.
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Blueballs83 added 22:34 - Jan 9 We deserve this! What a pleasure it is to support Ipswich Town again. It was a long 15 years or so, but this last 18 months has been so fun and it seems like its only going to get better! Check out Nathan's Instagram, there's a brilliant goals reel from his time at Sunderland. Looks like an exciting player!
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churchmans added 22:37 - Jan 9 Lots of people bigging up KM & MA and rightly so but my thanks is going to our gamechanger,pension fund,investment company owners! Building up this great club of ours from top to bottom! Thankyou
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Gforce added 23:19 - Jan 9 Muff have now signed 5 players,hopefully they are all cr@p.😉
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1Warky added 23:44 - Jan 9 Such a transformation at the Club, on and off the pitch. No more exemplified than the manner in which it now conducts it's business. Well done to everyone behind the scenes. Well done to the team and staff for battling through a challenging injury/illness first half of the season. Let's hope the new signings give us the injection we need to charge on now.
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MalcolmMeatballHead added 23:51 - Jan 9 Good luck and welcome to Ipswich buh. You will do well wearing Alex Mathie's number on your back 👍
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:47 - Jan 10 Welcome! Always had a soft spot for the blues of Everton, the "people's club". Hope you do really well at ITFC!
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Help added 08:16 - Jan 10 We've got super Mark Ashton He buys exactly what we need He spends the cash buys quality not trash now we're gonna win the football league
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Rozeeboy74 added 09:17 - Jan 10 I know the YouTube clip reels will only show the best of the best, but this lad look class. Great signing.
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Steelmonkey added 09:20 - Jan 10 Welcome to the club Nathan, does anyone know if he and Hirst are cup tied having played for their previous teams. Here's hoping that Hirst and Broadhead hit the ground running, it's going to give KM a bit of a headache picking an eleven to start. Surely there must be interest from clubs asking if some of our players are available for transfer, I know we aren't looking to sell but how big a squad can you have and keep them all happy if they don't get game time.

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dusth added 09:54 - Jan 10 Put these words together to make a well known sentence. He Goal the Where is Knows.
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Nomore4 added 10:39 - Jan 10 Hopefulblue69 Bad apple???? He's a pro footballer who I'm sure is eager to keep pushing on with his career. Yes he was upset leaving Plymouth early, but we should expect nothing less. He has give his all 1st half the season….only to be told, sorry your time here is up. I'm sure he can't wait to get going somewhere else now. Can't see him staying at debt ridden Swansea. Not sure if outside the Prem, anyone can match us financially…..so it still looks hopeful IMO.

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Razor added 10:45 - Jan 10 Now just get Aaron Collins and that should do it!!
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Help added 10:47 - Jan 10 We got goals, goals Broadhead, Chaplin and Hirst We're gonna finish first We are unbeatable Always believing Goals
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Pettabelieveit added 10:48 - Jan 10 We're going to hand out a few hammerings in the second half of the season!
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Nomore4 added 11:00 - Jan 10 Razor. Luckily a lot better available than Collins.
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Orraman added 11:04 - Jan 10 We now have so much quality in this squad it's going to take all of KMcK's man management skills to keep everyone happy. I keep formulating different starting elevens in my head and keep totally confusing myself through the possibilities. Thank goodness for the five sub rule. Ridiculous that a man of my advanced years can get so excited about the future prospects
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Gforce added 11:47 - Jan 10 @Steelmonkey...Neither Hirst or Broadhead are cup tied,so all looking good for the Burnley match.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:19 - Jan 10 I'm as excited as the next man by our new additions, but just a word of warning. Don't count too many chickens until we see how things pan out. It's still going to be a close call to get into the top two. If we don't, at least I feel we've given ourselves a much better chance in the playoffs.
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TimmyH added 12:29 - Jan 10 Hopefully he'll be a good signing for the next few years...originally thought we were going in just for a loan spell. All the best Nathan, we need somebody to cause chaos in the oppositions box and get on some crosses/corners...
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1RWR added 12:40 - Jan 10 The is clearly a ‘message of intent' wow how times have changed…..uppa Towen!
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:16 - Jan 10 cant see the club pursuing Whittaker now. But reckon still could be more moves either way .
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