Trialist Devann Yao has finally signed his contract with the Blues. The free agent American joins Town for the rest of the season after the club finally worked through the paperwork relating to compensation due to some of his former clubs, French side Metz, Italian teams Livorno and Pisa and St Mirren in Scotland.
Yao, who TWTD first revealed was on trial back in November, told the club site that he has been getting on well in Suffolk: "I've really enjoyed my time here and I'm very happy that I now have the chance to play for Ipswich.
"I'm here until the summer and hopefully in that time I can break into the first team. If I can play one or two games then that would mean I'm making progress.
"The coaching staff have been pushing me and telling me what they want. They have been really positive to me and now the challenge is to keep improving and try and win myself a new contract in the summer.
"I've been to France and Italy to play but English football is the style I enjoy the most. I love the pace of the game here and it's a fantastic opportunity for me at Ipswich."
Yao admits that during the protracted discussions regarding his deal, involving his mum, who is his agent, he became concerned that the deal might break down: "There were times when I was worried it might not happen but the clubs I have been at have not stood in my way of playing here and the people at Ipswich have worked hard to make it happen. Now I can't wait to get going."
The 19-year-old wideman was born in New York to an Ivorian father and Italian mother, which qualifies him for an EU passport. He was with French side Metz’s youth academy for three seasons having joined them at 13.
A year in Italy playing in the reserves with Livorno and Pisa was followed by a short spell in Scotland with St Mirren’s youth set-up before he returned to the US, where he has spent time on trial with the New York Red Bulls.