Young central defender Chris Smith has signed a new one-year deal with the Blues with an option for a further season.
Smith, 20, has spent much of the season on loan with Chelmsford City in the Vanarama National League South with his only senior game for the Blues so far a late appearance from the bench in the Carabao Cup tie at Crystal Palace in August.
"I’m absolutely delighted to have this contract signed,” former Kesgrave High School pupil Smith, who has played 26 times for Chelmsford during two loan spells, told the club site.""
"The loan spell with Chelmsford has helped me a lot. I’ve been playing with experienced players and it has helped me pick up pointers here and there.
"I returned to Ipswich for a little while and Mick [McCarthy] said he noticed a bit of change in me so that was nice.
"Playing here means so much to me as I’ve supported the club since I was just a kid and my family is full of Town fans.""
"For now I’d love to help Chelmsford get promotion as we’re aiming for the play-offs and then I’ll come back to Portman Road and hopefully be involved in the first team next season.”
Speaking early last month, McCarthy said Smith would get a new deal and could be sent out on loan again next season, but to a league side.
"Chris Smith is probably the standout one for me that’s doing well as a centre-back," he said.
"He’s trained with us [the first-team squad] today. He’s coming out of contract but my intention is to give him a new contract and if we have to loan him out then so be it."