Town have confirmed the signing of former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on a contract until the end of the season. TWTD revealed that the Blues were close to sealing a deal for the 27-year-old free agent yesterday.
"I’m delighted to get the deal done and finally be an Ipswich player,” Ebanks-Blake told the club website.
"It’s been on cards for a while now and I’m just pleased we’ve managed to get everything done and dusted. I’m here now and in the mix with the rest of the lads to play my part for the team.
"I’ve worked with the gaffer and TC before and we’ve had a lot of success in the past. They played a big part in me wanting to come here.
"You know what you get with the gaffer. He’s honest and straight and TC is a great coach, especially with us strikers, and, as I’ve already said, I’m just delighted to have signed here and I can’t wait to get back out on the pitch after so long out injured.”
The Cambridge-born former England U21 international has been sidelined since April with a broken leg and ankle ligament damage and has been back with Wolves during the opening months of the season working on his fitness, despite being released at the end of 2012/13.
Ebanks-Blake, who will wear the number 27 shirt, is signing for Mick McCarthy for the second time, the Blues boss having taken him to Wolves from Plymouth for £1.5 million in January 2008.
The former Manchester United trainee is understood to have previously held talks with Burnley and Leicester in recent weeks, while Leeds were also linked.
Having played youth football with hometown club Cambridge United, Ebanks-Blake joined Manchester United’s academy at 15.
He made two senior appearances for the Red Devils, one start and one game from the bench, both in the League Cup, and spent time on loan in Belgium with Royal Antwerp while at Old Trafford.
In the summer of 2006 Plymouth paid an initial £200,000 for his services with the deal including clauses which totalled a further £100,000.
After scoring 23 goals in 56 starts and 18 sub appearances in 18 months with the Pilgrims, McCarthy took him to Wolves in January 2008.
In five years at Molineux the 5ft 8in tall striker netted 64 goals in 133 starts and 60 sub appearances, carrying off the Championship’s Golden Boot award in 2007/08 — 23 league goals - and 2008/09 when his 25 league goals helped Wolves win the title and promotion into the Premier League.
Last season, his 15 goals couldn't prevent his side dropping into League One with his injuries ending his season prior to the crucial last month of the campaign.
Photo: ITFC