As expected Town have signed Lorient winger Ulrich Le Pen. The Frenchman was paraded at a press conference this afternoon.

At the conference manager George Burley said: "Ulrich is an attacking wide player. He has many qualities - a good left foot, is a good crosser and has the ability to take players on, in the mould of our former player Bobby Petta.

"I feel he will give us abilities which we don't have in the squad at present. We don't have any natural wingers and I feel he will give us different options down the left-hand side.

"We are looking to turn the possession we have had in games into goals, and hopefully Ulrich can help us do this with his pinpoint crosses. In the last two of three seasons he has reached his potential. He has scored seven goals in the last two years and currently has the most assists in the French Premier League."

The new man Le Pen said: "I am very pleased to be here at Ipswich. It is the highlight of my career to come to the Premiership and it will be a good challenge here."

Town chairman David Sheepshanks said: "He has signed a contract until June 2005. The fee is undisclosed but is a substantial seven-figure sum. We all hope he has a long and happy career here."

A figure of 20 million Francs is being quoted in France, which is around the £1.8 million mark.

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