Former Blues loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers has signed a new contract with his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
The US international, 20, has put pen to paper on a new deal which runs to the summer of 2021.
Carter-Vickers made 17 starts for the Blues having joined on loan in January after spending the first half of the campaign with Sheffield United.
"I’m delighted to sign a new contract,” the Southend-born central defender told the official Spurs site.
"I’ve worked hard out on loan this season, trying to get as many minutes and games as I could.
"I feel like I’ve improved as a player and it’s definitely benefitted me, to be out at Sheffield United and Ipswich.
"I enjoyed my time at both clubs, the players there and coaching staff there have all been really helpful towards me and helped my development.
"In the Championship you play a lot of midweek games so getting used to playing every three or four days has been an eye-opener, both mentally and physically.
"It’s definitely a physical league, also very tough. Any team can beat any other team so you’ve really got to be on it every game you play, to try to get the points.
"I feel like I’ve improved a lot, though, and it gave me great experience going out on loan.
"Now I’m looking to kick on. The next step for me is to come back for pre-season, get my head down, work hard and try to impress the manager and as many people as I can.”
He says he's kept an eye on developments at Tottenham, both on and off the field, during his time away.
"I’ve stayed in contact with people like Kyle Walker-Peters and I’ve tried to watch Tottenham’s games when I could, so I’ve stayed in touch with how the club is doing,” he added.
"I think the team at Tottenham is always improving and it’s what the gaffer strives for — he wants you to improve every day.
"The new stadium looks amazing as well, so the future is bright all throughout the club. It would be great if I could get some minutes in the new stadium, but for now I have to focus on working hard and continuing to give my all.”