Departing full-back Tyrone Mings has thanked everyone connected with Town and says the club will always have “a special place in his heart”. The 22-year-old completed his move to AFC Bournemouth earlier today for an initial fee of £8 million rising to £10 million with top-up clauses.
"I’ve had a lot of well wishes from loads of people at the club and plenty of my teammates,” the £10,000 December 2012 signing from Chippenham told the club website.
"Obviously the captain and senior players such as Cole Skuse, Gerks and Luke Hyam have all been in touch.
"These are not just guys I speak to in the dressing room but also they have become lifelong friends, so it’s nice.
"It’s a move I’m really excited to make, although with a hint of disappointment to be leaving Ipswich as I’ve loved my time here.
"I must thank the manager and Terry Connor for giving me a chance from non-league and everybody at the club has been so supportive on this journey.
"The fans have also been great and I just want to say thank you to all the Town supporters. It’s been a learning curve for me but they’ve always stuck with me and I’m grateful to them for that.”
He plans to return to Portman Road at some point to give his old team-mates his support: "Of course I’ll be back, it’s the first place I’d head for.
"This club will always have a special place in my heart and hopefully one day I can come back here and play at Portman Road again to give the fans a proper send off. That’s as long as they give me a good reception of course!”
Want to start by saying a massive thankyou to all at @Official_ITFC - the management, fans, players and staff for all they've done for me 💙– Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) June 26, 2015
Very hard decision to make because the management and club have given me the opportunity and support from non league #itfc– Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) June 26, 2015
A dream come true to reach the premiership, so excited to get started with @afcbournemouth and over the moon to have joined them.– Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) June 26, 2015
I hope @Official_ITFC get the promotion that everyone associated with the club deserves, under a great, great manager 😢💙 #itfc– Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) June 26, 2015