Kallum Brisset believes Town signing last season's loan star Omari Hutchinson on a permanent basis is a superb piece of business.
Omari Hutchinson has rejoined Ipswich Town on a permanent basis. The boy wonder who, by the end of last season, had become one of the hottest young talents in English football while shining in the Championship. After helping the Blues return to the top flight for the first time in 22 years, Hutchinson has stayed on board the ship.
As with a lot of young talents enjoying their first taste of senior football, it took Hutchinson some time to find his feet. But when he did, the Jamaica international really showed the Championship what he was capable of.
On his first league start, he scored what proved to be the winner away at Southampton. It was a goal all of his own making, winning the ball on the edge of the opposition box before applying the perfect finish.
Manager Kieran McKenna had repeatedly stated how he saw room for Hutchinson to improve off the ball, and his first goal was a classic example of that coaching coming to fruition.
By the end of the campaign, Hutchinson had become a mainstay in the side, overall contributing 11 goals and five assists in his debut season. He only started 20 league games, but that included all of the final nine matches of the season when it was impossible to keep him out of the side. During that time, his two goals at Hull City truly showed Hutchinson’s magic.
Ipswich’s final goal of the Championship promotion-winning season was a Hutchinson goal, so it seems fitting that he now becomes the first signing of the Blues’ latest Premier League era.
Bundesliga side Stuttgart, who could offer Champions League football, were believed to be keen. But Ipswich were always one of the obvious options, particularly once speculation over McKenna’s future was ended and the Northern Irishman decided he was going to stay in charge.
McKenna joked that he wanted CEO Mark Ashton to sign Hutchinson for his birthday this summer. Well, Kieran, your wish has been granted.
The now former Chelsea man has been signed on a five-year contract, which shows a statement of intent from Town. At just 20 years old, Hutchinson has years of potential ahead of him and Ipswich clearly see that future to be at Portman Road.
Ipswich’s financial power has meant they were able to get the deal done. PSR rules mean they are limited to what they can spend and the budget this summer will be modest by comparison with some in the division, but this is a transfer that the club had their eyes on from the moment promotion was secured in early May.
As for the transfer fee, it is a new club record transfer. The old record of £4.8million for Matteo Sereni in 2001 has not just been broken, it’s not even been smashed. It’s been obliterated. The initial fee for Hutchinson is believed to be around £18 million, with add-ons potentially taking the total sum to around £22 million.
At this level, financial mistakes are punished and wasted transfer fees of that magnitude can be fatal. While there are no guarantees and no move is ever risk-free, that is what makes this deal so smart. Hutchinson knows the system and manager, while Town know exactly what to expect from the youngster. It feels like the perfect fit for both the player and the club, while the possibility to improve is endless.
It has often been said by Ashton how ‘consistency is our superpower’. He’s right. Why would you not want to keep that continuity of a player who had become one of the first names on the teamsheet by the conclusion of last season? Once again, this is superb business to kick off the summer.