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Town Confirm Harrison Signing - Ipswich Town News

Town have confirmed the signing of striker Ellis Harrison from Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal with the club having an option for a further season.

The 24-year-old joins the Blues for a fee in the region of £750,000 which could rise to £1.25 million if top-up clauses are triggered.

"He gives us something different at the top end of the pitch,” Town boss Paul Hurst told the club site.

"He’s a youngish player who has come up through the leagues and last season he put together a year when he scored 14 goals.

"He’s athletic, leads the line well. He has a good work ethic, good mobility and has a good leap on him.

"We are getting a player that will be thinking he has something to prove at this level and I like that. That’s the sort of player we are trying to bring in. He will definitely give us another option up front.”

Rovers manager Darrell Clarke told the Pirates' official site: "Ellis has been a fantastic servant to the club over the years and I'd like to thank him for all his efforts during his time here.

"He will be more sorely missed on and off the pitch and I wish him every success in the future."

Harrison himself says he's looking forward to testing himself at Championship level.

"I'm really excited and I can't wait to get going now," he told iFollow Ipswich. "I think now is the right time for me to push on and try to see how far I can get in my career.

"The gaffer has brought me in, but that doesn't mean I'm going to play so I have to show him what I can do.

"Playing against the gaffer's team at Shrewsbury was horrible to say the least. They were so fit, so strong and hopefully we can be that team this year.

"I'll bring hard work to the team. I like to chip in with some goals here and there, but I'll be bringing hard work."

Harrison, who will wear the Town number 10 shirt, was left out of the Bristol Rovers side which faced Forest Green Rovers in a friendly on Saturday, the clubs having agred the fee.

The former Wales U21 international was at Town this morning to discuss personal terms and to undergo a medical.

Harrison becomes Paul Hurst's fourth Blues signing and the second he has paid a fee for after fellow Welshman Gwion Edwards, who was recruited from Peterborough for a similar sum last week, joining free recruit Jordan Roberts and season-long loanee Trevoh Chalobah.

Harrison, who will make his first appearance in a Town shirt at the KM Dons on Tuesday, came through the youth system at the Memorial Stadium and has played all his senior games for the Pirates aside from a short spell on loan at Hartlepool where he made two starts early in 2016.

Last season the Newport-born forward scored 14 goals. In total for Bristol Rovers he has made 116 starts and 88 sub appearances, netting 49 times.

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