Fulham have confirmed that keeper David Stockdale has joined the Blues on a season-long loan "with immediate effect" and has also put pen to paper on a new four-year contract extension which will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2015.

The 25-year-old is keen to leave Fulham for a short-term spell in order to gain experience, while the Cottagers are believed to have demanded a recall clause in case of injury to first choice Mark Schwarzer.

Stockdale told the Town official site: "I had a great talk with the gaffer here and Ipswich Town is a big club so I was eager to come here.

"The manager told me about the quality of the signings he's made and where they're heading and everything he told me made me keen to make join the club.

"Now I'm just looking forward to getting going and playing my part in what I hope will be a successful season for Ipswich."

Earlier this month Swansea made an unsuccessful attempt to sign the former York and Darlington glovesman on a permanent deal but the Cottagers are only willing to discuss a loan deal. Leeds were also interested in a loan but their proposed deal is understood to have broken down due to the recall requirement.

Leeds-born Stockdale, who is 6ft 3in tall, played youth football with Huddersfield before joining York's youth set-up, breaking through into the first team in 2003.

Having spent time on loan at Wakefield-Emley and Worksop Town, Stockdale moved to Darlington on a free transfer in 2006.

Impressive performances for the Quakers led to Fulham offering a fee which would eventually reach £600,000 after various clauses had been triggered in June 2008.

While at Craven Cottage, Stockdale has spent time on loan at Rotherham, Leicester and Plymouth and he has made only 13 starts for the Londoners, eight in the Premier League.

An England National Game XI player while in the Blue Square Bet Premier with York, he was named in the full England squad twice earlier this year but is yet to win a cap.

Town boss Paul Jewell has never appeared entirely convinced by first choice keeper Márton Fülöp, replacing him with deputy Arran Lee-Barrett for a spell towards the end of the season before recalling the Hungarian.

Lee-Barrett, who signed a new two-year deal over the summer, and Fülöp, who was briefly linked with Turkish side Bursaspor prior to Scott Carson joining them, have both started games during pre-season.

Stockdale looks likely to make his first start for the Blues at Colchester this evening (KO 7.45pm).

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's move from Arsenal for an initial fee of £1.5 million rising to £2 million after various clauses are triggered is expected to be announced later this afternoon.

Photo: ITFC.

Photo: Action Images

dirtydingusmagee added 09:15 - Jul 27 Good news ,PJ is getting a team together now, looking good for new season COYB .
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