Midfielder Flynn Downes has signed a new contract with the Blues which runs to the summer of 2020.
The 18-year-old only put pen to paper on his first pro deal with the club at the end of last month - a one-year contract with an option for a further season - but has greatly impressed manager Mick McCarthy in pre-season.
The Brentwood-born academy product began to break into the first-team squad at the end of last season and he was included as a sub for the final game at Nottingham Forest, although without making it on to the field.
"All-round, technically he’s a really good footballer, he’s athletic, he puts his foot in, he’ll compete, he’s a real competitor and he’s a winner on the pitch," McCarthy said after the Forest match.
"He comes over and he shows no respect for the first team, he comes and dumps them on their backsides if they need dumping on their backsides. I love that about him."
Speaking after the 5-0 friendly win at Drogheda recently, he added: "I really do like Flynn Downes, I think he’ll contribute this season."
Last night the Town boss described Downes's performance at Peterborough as "excellent".
The player himself is targeting involvement in the first team once the season proper gets under way.
"I'm really delighted to sign; I've put in a lot of hard work and I feel like it's been rewarded," he told iFollow Ipswich.
"It's been a really hard pre-season so far, mentally and physically, but I'm feeling good.
"The more senior members of the squad, like Chambo [Luke Chambers] help a lot. They give you a lot of advice but first-team football is a lot quicker.
"It's encouraging to see others come through and play for the first-team so it has pushed me on even more because I want to get to that level."
Former Blues midfielder Kieron Dyer, recently appointed the club's assistant U16s coach, worked with Downes during his previous stint coaching in the academy and is a big fan.
"Flynn, two years ago he was in my U16s, again he had great potential but was a bit behind Andre [Dozzell] and Tristan [Nydam] at the time," he told TWTD at the weekend.
"But he’s come on leaps and bounds. In pre-season I hear he’s been absolutely flying, winning all the long distance races, he was ahead on all the running stats and in training in Ireland I heard he was outstanding, which is good for him and he’s another one to look out for."
ðŸ"½ï¸ | Talented #itfc midfielder, Flynn Downes, has spoken of his delight at penning a three-year contract at Portman Road... pic.twitter.com/JM6DzU3D6P– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) July 19, 2017