Town have completed the signing of AFC Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman on a three-year deal with an option for a further season. We understand that the 27-year-old has joined on a free transfer.
Last season Pitman scored 14 goals - including a first-half hat-trick against Blackpool in March - in 21 starts and 18 sub appearances as the Cherries topped the Championship and reached the Premier League for the first time in their history.
The striker told Ipswich Player HD that the switch didn't take long to complete: "The move happened fairly quickly, to be honest, but I’d heard of the interest for a couple of days.
"As soon as I heard that Ipswich were interested, it was something that got me really excited straight away.
"I know there’s a good group of lads here and I know Cole Skuse very well, who told me nothing but positive things about the club.
"The lads went close last season, just falling a little short in the play-offs, but with the squad already in place here you’d expect them to be able to go again.
"The manager spoke to me briefly and, as I’ve already said, coming to Ipswich was a move that really appealed to me and got me excited to get the deal done.”
Cherries manager Eddie Howe paid tribute to Pitman for his contribution with the Dorset club.
"Brett had a year left on his contract and I couldn’t make him any promises regarding playing time next season," he told the Bournemouth Echo.
"I really left the decision to him as to what he chose to do with the next step of his career. He wanted the security of a longer contract which we couldn’t offer him so he decided to join Ipswich.
"I want to thank him for everything he has done for me and for this football club. He will be fondly remembered by everyone here and has been instrumental in our past three promotions.”
He added: "Brett has been worth his weight in gold over the past two seasons because he has played his part on and off the pitch. He was a brilliant supporter of the other players when he wasn’t involved and was a real team player.
"That is why, at this stage of his career, I couldn’t stand in his way if there was a move he wanted to pursue. I had to be very honest with him and let him know where he stood and that is why the outcome has ended up how it has.”
The St Helier-born frontman started his career with Bournemouth before joining Bristol City in 2010 for a reported £1 million, after a proposed switch to Blackpool had broken down.
He returned to Dean Court initially on loan in December 2012 before signing a permanent deal the following summer.
Overall Pitman, who won promotion from all three Football League divisions while with the Cherries and is their fourth-highest all-time goalscorer, netted 102 goals in 174 starts and 127 sub appearances for the Dorset club. For Bristol City he scored 20 goals in 36 starts and 45 games from the bench.
Photo: ITFC