Town have confirmed the signing of Joe Garner from Rangers on a three-year deal. On Sunday, TWTD revealed that the Blues were closing in on the recruitment of the 29-year-old.
The former Preston man joins the Blues for a fee which is officially undisclosed but which we understand is £1 million, the largest paid during Mick McCarthy's time as boss. Town's last seven-figure fee was the £1.5 million spent when Paul Taylor joined from Peterborough in August 2012.
Garner is a former team-mate of skipper Luke Chambers and David McGoldrick at Nottingham Forest and he says he spoke to them in addition to conversations with manager Mick McCarthy.
"I spoke to both of them and they couldn’t speak highly enough of Ipswich and the manager,” he told the club site.""
"I’ve had a couple of conversations with the manager as well and he told me of his ideas for this season and I can’t wait to get going now."
"There has been interest from Ipswich in the past but I’m delighted to have this opportunity now to come down and play here.""
"It’s good to get things done early as well. I’ve had a few moves when you join in the last week of pre-season and it’s always harder to settle in then but here I can start with the other lads for a full pre-season and I’m looking forward to it.
"I know all about the Championship. It’s the toughest league I have played in but we’ve got some good players here and I’m ready for the challenge.
"""I had a great time at Rangers and got on well with the fans there but that’s behind me now. It’s a new chapter for me here.”""
Garner, who got married in his native Lancashire earlier today, moved to Ibrox from Preston for a reported £1.4 million last summer, when we understand Town were also interested, signing a three-year contract.
ðŸ"½ï¸ | New #itfc signing, Joe Garner, speaks to iFollow Ipswich after making the switch to Portman Road from Rangers #JoeJoins pic.twitter.com/k8QDL9nyVi– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) June 16, 2017
The former England U16, U17 and U19 international scored 10 goals in 22 starts and 12 sub appearances during 2016/17.
Garner started his career with his hometown club Blackburn Rovers but was unable to break into the first team prior to moving on to Carlisle, initially on loan, then Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield (loan), Scunthorpe (loan), Watford and Carlisle for a further loan spell before joining Preston in 2013.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES 👀 | Take a tour of Portman Road with Joe Garner, as the striker pens his three-year contract at #itfc #JoeJoins pic.twitter.com/SA1PkGNY3F– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) June 16, 2017
While with the Lilywhites the 5ft 10in tall frontman scored a 20-minute second-half hat-trick as the Lancastrians beat the Blues 3-2 in an FA Cup third round replay at Deepdale in January 2014.
The following season Garner won the League One Player of the Year award as he helped Preston into the Championship via the play-offs.