Town have confirmed the signing of former loanee Massimo Luongo on a six-month deal following his release by Middlesbrough, the Teessiders having announced his departure earlier this evening.
TWTD revealed in December that former loanee Luongo was training with the Blues squad to allow manager Kieran McKenna to run the rule over the 30-year-old.
"It’s been 10 years or so since I was here before and it’s great to be back,” Luongo told the club site.
"I want to be in a team that’s doing well and I think that this is a good opportunity here. I’m delighted to get the deal done and now I’m focused on helping the team get promotion.”
Town boss Kieran McKenna added: "Massimo is an accomplished midfielder with an abundance of experiences in club and international football.
"He is a versatile and intelligent player who strengthens our options for the second half of the season. His experience and professionalism will also be an important addition to our dressing room.”
Luongo, who will wear the number 25 shirt, was with the Blues during the early stages of the 2012/13 campaign on loan from Tottenham - where he crossed paths with McKenna - before being sent back to White Hart Lane by Mick McCarthy soon after he took over having made eight starts and three sub appearances, scoring once.
The Sydney-born midfielder subsequently had spells on loan at Swindon before joining the Robins permanently in 2013.
After two years at the County Ground, he moved on to QPR in 2015, then four years later signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
He left the Owls last summer when he joined Boro on a short-term deal to January, however, he didn’t play a minute for the Teessiders, who are now managed by McKenna's close friend and former Manchester United colleague Michael Carrick.
Capped 43 times by Australia, scoring six times, Luongo was in the Socceroos’ squads for the 2014 and 2018 World Cups without featuring in either tournament but scored in the 2-1 Asia Cup victory over South Korea in 2015, however, hasn’t been involved with his national side since 2019.
Town had also been looking to add Peterborough’s Jack Taylor to their central midfield ranks during the January transfer window but Luongo's addition means the Blues are not currently pursuing that move, although the 24-year-old may well be targeted again in the future.