New Blues signing Anthony Wordsworth believes now is the right time for him to make the step up to the Championship. The 24-year-old, who has signed from League One Colchester for a fee believed to be in the region of an initial £100,000, has put pen to paper on a contract until the summer of 2015 with the option of a further season.
Wordsworth told the club site: "I’m obviously delighted to be here. It’s a big challenge and a big opportunity for me and I can’t wait to get going.
"I had opportunities to move last January but this feels the right time and the right club to make that step up.
"I can remember playing here for Colchester in a pre-season game a few years back and looking around the place and thinking what a big club Ipswich is and now I’m relishing the opportunity I’ve got here.”
The central midfielder, who operated as a winger earlier in his career, confirmed that he had trained with Town earlier in the month while unable to play for the U’s due to a ban.
"I was suspended for Colchester so took the opportunity to train with Ipswich and talk to the manager here,” he continued.
"I felt the three days had gone well and I left my boots at the training ground hoping I would be going back there!
"There was talk of other clubs being interested in me, but Ipswich was the only club that I wanted to join and I’m delighted I have been given the chance to show what I can do.”
The Londoner paid tribute to Colchester, where he started his career: "I was there a long time and enjoyed my time at the club over the years and, after eight years, I felt that this is the right time for me to go.
"Colchester is a brilliant club, and I can't speak highly enough of everybody there. They gave me my opportunity in professional football and I will always be grateful for that in the years to come."
Photo: ITFC