Former loanee Jimmy Bullard has rejoined the Blues, signing a two-year contract. The 32-year-old, last season's Player of the Year, underwent a medical at Portman Road last night and completed the formalities this morning.

Manager Paul Jewell said: "Jimmy Bullard’s signed and he’s an Ipswich player for the next two years. I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been an ongoing thing since Jimmy was here last year.

“We tried to broker a deal for him to come back but Hull, as was their prerogative, he was their player, weren’t prepared to let him out on for a [loan] fee we could really afford.

“Something’s gone on there, I don’t know what’s gone on. He’s obviously become a free agent and as soon as we heard that, we moved very quickly and spoke to his agent and the player, and we did a deal yesterday afternoon.

“I think it shows how much Jimmy enjoyed it here. He rang Monday and said there were a couple of clubs interested, one Premier, one or two Championship, but his preferences was to come here.

“It was down to finances to a certain extent but the most important thing was that we knew that he wanted to come and Jimmy knew that we wanted him."

The Town manager says the club haven't broken the bank to do the deal and confirmed that, as reported by TWTD yesterday, Portsmouth and QPR were the other main contenders: “No one comes cheap in this game these days. I think the owner deserves credit but so does Jimmy because everyone knows Jimmy was on a huge salary at Hull.

“I don’t know what’s gone on there and it’s not for me to speak about what’s gone on there. Money wasn’t the biggest issue. It was just ‘do you want me to come?’, and I asked him whether he wanted to come here.

“We didn’t want to get into a situation where we were bargaining against other clubs. I know that there was interest from QPR and definitely Portsmouth, but Jimmy wanted to come here, which is great.

“Both parties were happy to do it and hopefully he can have the same effect on this season as he did last.”

"We’re still waiting on the paperwork to go through for Daryl Murphy, who’s coming in on loan from Celtic, and with Ibrahima Sonko, we’re just waiting for his Twitter page to come up to confirm that!"

Photo: Action Images

das_bones added 11:26 - Aug 25 Well there u go, he did come back!!!!
0

randomblue added 11:28 - Aug 25 People will whinge about age etc etc but PJ has got it bob on - players with Prem experience that can teach the youngsters a thing or two. Chopra, JET, Andrews, Bullard, Bowyer - big players that this club wouldn't have signed historically! Good stuff and well done PJ, ME and SC.
0

Bluearmy71 added 11:28 - Aug 25 Fooking Ecstatic! :D Welcome back Jimmy
0

denhamblue added 11:28 - Aug 25 yes great signing,welcome jimmy.however our defence is a shambles,so doubt he make a earth shattering difference.
0

denhamblue added 11:28 - Aug 25 yes great signing,welcome jimmy.however our defence is a shambles,so doubt he make a earth shattering difference.
0

meekreech added 11:30 - Aug 25 Stockdale Edwards Sonko Kennedy Creswell Bowyer Bullard Andrews JET Chopra Murphy Take that Leeds !
0

blueoff added 11:31 - Aug 25 Fan fookn tastic jb you r a star
0

blue_all_over added 11:33 - Aug 25 Great news - Great signing - Welcome back Jimmy !!
0

ian_marshall added 11:33 - Aug 25 Welcome jimmy!
0

bluearmy78 added 11:33 - Aug 25 For all those people who said Jimmy would never sign for the club, eat humble pie, the MESSIAH has returned. COYB!!!!!
0

algarvefan added 11:36 - Aug 25 Quite simply brilliant news :-)
0

nitroblue1970 added 11:36 - Aug 25 thats a 25,000 plus crowd in for saturday then!....so Jimmy can sing....."i filled you ground for you, i filled your ground for you"...rather that than the dirty leeds brigade singing it like last year!...COYB!
0

jas0999 added 11:37 - Aug 25 Although less than impressed with Murphy and Sonko - this is a great deal. I really hope Jimmy remains fit. Pleased to be proved wrong - I didn't think we had a hope of signing him. Both the club and Jimmy have surprised me with this! Let's hope that we are not paying him 42K a week though.
0

blueherts added 11:40 - Aug 25 This is truly a fantastic feelin' JB is a talisman and a real team spirit leader - I think he will galvanise this team and even if we cannot immediately replace the back 3 ( exc Creswell) he will bring confidence to the younger or under performing players and make the talented players like Chopra and JET shine - This a great day - Just hope he dont get crocked by Dirty Leeds

0

icetruckiller added 11:45 - Aug 25 Never thought he'd come back, and i said he'd go where the money is, so apologies to JB. Now let's climb that league.
0

ventilator added 11:46 - Aug 25 Now it all becomes clear - the reason we haven't seem much of ME recently is due to him quietly orchestrating the undisclosed disciplinary incident on Hull's pre-season training trip to Slovenia, that led to JB's contract termination. May I commend all involved for an outstanding piece of subterfuge. COYB !!! Just in time as well, as I hate Leeds and would like them to be sent back to Yorkshire with their tails between their legs come Saturday evening.

0

BlackandBlue added 11:51 - Aug 25 Fantastic!! make him captain
0

4dy added 11:53 - Aug 25 welcome back jimmy,my son cant wait for saturday,and welcome to anybody else we bring in this week.nice tonic for the end of the week.
0

hulltractor added 11:55 - Aug 25 By all accounts up here he was sacked for turning up at the training ground still p*ssed straight from a night out in London. Taxi pulled up at the training ground and Pearson wasnt impressed !. At least the Taxi costs will be cheaper now he has joined us !!!
0

come_on_blues added 11:57 - Aug 25 Welcome Jimmy you kept your word, now lets beat Leeds the dirty team. Did not think this would happen just what we need to help the youngester of our team. with Sonko, Murphy we can get in play offs hear we come.
0

UsualSuspect added 11:57 - Aug 25 Fantastic news! always wanted Jimmy back, didn't really believe it was possible due to finances, amazing how one bit of good news can transform opinions of the most ardent critics, time to rejoice.
0

gibbo added 11:58 - Aug 25 Looking forward to when we sign messi, as jewell said he has more chance of signing him than Bullard .
0

StowTractorBoy added 12:00 - Aug 25 Very pleased with the signing - still worried about the centre of defence and right back positions and oh for some pace in the side. I thought Jewell liked pace on his flanks but this has not happened yet. Yes once Jet gets going he has it but not the seering pace that Teale (When at Wigan with PJ) had in his prime. We must not get carried away as some are on here as it will take time for our new players to bed in. For once it is good that we have a two week break after Saturday and just hope we go into it with a win but as I say our back line is still a major concern for me.

0

arablue added 12:04 - Aug 25 Brilliant news!!! Wooooohoooooooooooooooo!!! Thank God!
0

paulnstar added 12:08 - Aug 25 the only time jewells delighted is when he is near a car bonnet lol seriously is old man bullard gonna stop 7 going in our net again ,no because he couldnt stop the budgies getting 5 ,hes only signed because he would only get in the reserves of the teams linked and u just know he will get injured again please go now jewell ur turning town into derby
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls