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Town Confirm Signing of City's Slicker - Ipswich Town News

Town have confirmed the signing of keeper Cieran Slicker from Manchester City on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

TWTD revealed last night that the 20-year-old was close to completing a move to the Blues from the Premier League and European champions.

The Scotland U21 international was at last night’s 2-1 friendly victory over Maidenhead United at Needham Market’s Bloomfields.

"I’m buzzing to be here because this is a great opportunity for me at an amazing club,” Slicker, who will have worked with Town legend and City keeper-coach Richard Wright at the Etihad Stadium, told the club site.

"Saying goodbye to City is tough, because I have been there for 13 years, but this is definitely the right time for me.

"I have been speaking to Reg [Rene Gilmartin, Town’s head of goalkeeping] and I can’t wait to get started with him.

"He’s worked with goalkeepers I’ve played with previously and everyone has spoken very highly of him.

"The way Ipswich play was a big part of the reason I chose to come here, because it suits my style.

"Everyone I know who played in League One last season said Ipswich were the best team by a mile, so hearing that was great for me. In some ways it’s similar to the way City play so that is really big for me.

"Working with Ederson, Scott [Carson] and Zak [Steffen] at City has been a brilliant experience for me and working with Christian [Walton] is going to be the same.

"He was the best goalkeeper in the league last season and I want to learn as much as I can from him because he sets the standards I want to reach.”

Gilmartin added: "Cieran is a highly regarded and highly recommended goalkeeper who we have had a very good look at and heard great things about.

"He’s the kind of high-level goalkeeper we are looking to bring to the club and we’re delighted to have him.

"We have a very strong goalkeeping department now and we want players who are developing at the club and have a realistic chance to be the first choice in the future.

"We’re thrilled with how Christian did last season, and Vas [Vaclav Hladky] had a great season himself, but to have someone like Cieran coming in will only help keep the levels really high.

"He comes from a big club in Manchester City and has been on the bench for them before while also featuring in their Champions League squads, so he’s been around the senior game for a while.

"We’re really looking forward to working with him and it’s great the deal was done before we head away to our camp in Austria. Being involved in that will really help him embed himself into the group.”

Slicker, who will be familiar to Town’s U18s coach and former keeper Callum Tongue from his time coaching at City’s academy, had a spell on loan at Rochdale last season but was recalled in January having made three cup appearances.

Capped by Scotland at U17, U18 and U21 levels, Slicker has also featured for City’s U21s in the Papa Johns Trophy.

As he is aged under 21, Slicker won't count towards the 25-man EFL squad, seems likely to be Town's number three keeper with Nick Hayes, 24, likely to be sent out on loan to gain first-team experience.

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