Keeper Christian Walton says enjoying being at the club and feeling Town is the best place for him to improve were behind his decision to sign a new two-year deal with the Blues last week.
Like teammate Wes Burns, Walton put pen to paper on a contract which runs to the summer of 2026.
The 28-year-old joined the Blues in August 2021 initially on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion before making the move permanent the following January.
"Obviously delighted,” he told TownTV. "I’ve been here for three seasons now and what a journey it’s been, so to sign a new deal and extend my time here was something I wanted to do.
"And it was something my family really wanted me to do. Coming to watch and follow my journey at this club, and it has been that, a really good journey, so I’m delighted.”
He added: "It has been a ride. Some highs, some lows but that’s any football journey. Obviously the highs have been a lot better than the lows.
"It was tough at the start with so many new faces coming into the club but everyone knew what a great club we’ve got here and how well supported it is. To see the highs over the last two seasons especially has been amazing.”
Walton played all bar the final few minutes of Town's 2022/23 League One promotion season but after suffering an injury in pre-season featured for only the last couple of minutes of the Championship promotion campaign.
He then made his Premier League debut against Liverpool on the opening day after new signing Aro Muric picked up a knock in training.
Asked about his decision-making process when it came to agreeing his new deal, he said: "I think first and foremost it’s whether I’m enjoying my time at a football club and I definitely am, so that was the first thing.
"And wanting to improve as a player, and I feel this is best place for me to do that with the coaching staff, the manager and everything that’s at the club now.
"That’s a big factor to why I wanted to stay and I speak for everyone on that, the new signings coming in just want to come and be part of it and improve as people and as players.”
Walton says he enjoys working with head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin, who is now assisted by ex-West Ham keeper David Martin, and alongside Muric, third-choice Cieran Slicker and youngster Henry Gray.
"It’s a really settled group,” he said. "I’m the longest in that group now. It’s great to come in and work with those guys every day and it makes it really enjoyable.
"We’re all pushing each other to do well and whoever’s playing gets the support from the group and we’re pushing each other each and every day in training.”
Reflecting on that surprise Premier League debut at Portman Road on the opening day, he added: "It was a really nice opportunity for me. Obviously, not playing last season, you feel like you’re a million miles away from it at times.
"To play on that opening day, what a great occasion. Twenty-two years that the club hadn’t been in the Premier League and for me it was the best atmosphere I’ve seen at Portman Road in my time here with two promotions, which bring a great atmosphere, but I thought that opening day was something special.
"It will be a memory for life and I loved it, but now it’s building on that and getting as much support as we can throughout the season.
"It’s always on to the next one. There’s a different schedule in the Premier League so the games aren’t as frequent as in the Championship and League One, but now it’s building on that and taking it into Saturday.”
The latest betting odds for Saturday against Southampton are Town to win at 2/1, the draw at 5/2 and home win 6/5.