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Swap Deal Complete - Ipswich Town News

Town and Bristol City have completed the deal which sees Jay Emmanuel-Thomas move to Ashton Gate and winger Paul Anderson join the Blues. Both players have signed two-year contracts with their new clubs.

Anderson started his career as a youth player with West Brom, before moving on to Hull City and then Liverpool in November 2005.

The 24-year-old spent time on loan at Swansea and Nottingham Forest — when he was linked with a move to the Blues - while with the Reds, before making the switch to the City Ground permanent in the summer of 2009 for £250,000.

The 5ft 9in tall former England U19 international moved on to Bristol City last summer, signing a two-year deal. He made 19 starts and 11 sub appearances for the Robins during their 2012/13 relegation campaign, scoring three goals.

The clubs are understood to have thrashed out a deal over the weekend which will see Town settle the remaining year on Emmanuel-Thomas’s contract.

The Blues are said to have been looking for a player plus cash arrangement — having paid in excess of £1 million for Emmanuel-Thomas when he signed from Arsenal — but have had to settle for just the player swap.

The 22-year-old midfielder played for Robins boss Sean O'Driscoll on loan at Doncaster and was initially targeted as a loan signing back in January.

Londoner Emmanuel-Thomas joined the Blues from the Gunners in July 2011 and made 43 starts and 32 sub appearances, scoring nine goals.

Photo: ITFC

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