Town have confirmed the signing of Danish international left-back Jonas Knudsen from Esbjerg fB on a three-year deal with the Blues having an option for a further season.

The fee is officially undisclosed but is understood to be €500,000 (£350,000) with the 22-year-old’s Esbjerg contract believed to have had a buy-out clause set at that level.

Knudsen is set to make his first appearance in a Town shirt when FC Utrecht are at Portman Road for the final friendly of pre-season on Saturday afternoon.

TWTD understands that members of the Town management, including assistant boss Terry Connor, travelled to Denmark to watch Knudsen in action during the first few weeks of the Danish season.

Knudsen joined Esbjerg aged 10 from a local village club Hjerting and in March 2010 he made his first team debut against Randers aged 17, becoming the youngest player in the club's history.

He quickly established himself as a left-back and despite his youth has already played 153 domestic senior games (including appearances in the Europa League in 2013/14 and 2014/15), scoring six goals. He was part of the side which won the 2013 DBU Cup (Danish FA Cup).

Having impressed throughout 2013/14, when he was his club's Player of the Year, he broke into the Danish national team and has won two caps.

I'm very happy and proud to announce that I'm now representing Ipswich Town FC #itfc @Official_ITFC pic.twitter.com/LtXhfQ3MJY

— Jonas Knudsen (@Knudsen23) July 31, 2015

Described as a physically strong player and a hard worker who enjoys a battle, he is also known for his long throws.

Knudsen, who was previously linked with the likes of French side Marseille and Dutch giants PSV, recently played at the European U21 Championships in the Czech Republic and has also won caps at U18, U19 and U20 levels.

Knudsen has been handed the number three shirt vacated by fellow left-back Tyrone Mings when he joined AFC Bournemouth for £8 million last month.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Fixed_It added 19:19 - Jul 31 Let's hope he becomes our next Great Dane. Welcome to Ipswich, Jonas!
14

bluemikey100 added 19:19 - Jul 31 welcome mick will be raving bout him bein best left back in division then sell him for 8 million lol
4

AbujaBlue added 19:20 - Jul 31 Great news, and hopefully a continuation of our policy of developing top quality left-backs! Velkommen!
1

miltonsnephew added 19:21 - Jul 31 Great news, well done. Looks a great talent, and exactly the kind of player we should be looking for. Now a right back and a stand out number 1. And Joniesta please....
3

jpring89 added 19:21 - Jul 31 Bacon sarnies all round
1

MaySixth added 19:22 - Jul 31 Same agent, Ivan Marko Benes, that got the deal through to Brentford for Lasse Vibe Must of made a pretty penny this summer
1

Suffolk_n_Good added 19:22 - Jul 31 Welcome Jonas, work hard, be strong & you'll be warmly welcomed by the ITFC fans, good luck.
4

rexron added 19:24 - Jul 31 Im very exited about this news. Signing a young up & coming international for a small fee is the way to go forward. Reminds me of when Taricco arrived. Compare him with this Dallas dude who Leeds payed 1.1 mill for im sure Knudsen is the best investment.
8

WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:24 - Jul 31 Great news. For nice reasons I suspect he won't be with us terribly long as I think he will be the 3rd LB we bring through who goes on to bigger things. After AC and TM.
0

TractorCam added 19:28 - Jul 31 Welcome Jonas, looking forward to seeing what you an do!
2

BlueBoots added 19:29 - Jul 31 Long Throws? It's taken nearly 20 years, but I think we've finally replaced Andy Legg... Welcome aboard, Jonas!
3

thacks added 19:37 - Jul 31 Great signing only one worry for me and thats having had a buy-out clause set at £350,000 put in to his contract, means if he does well for us we will lose him for nothing.
-3

jpring89 added 19:41 - Jul 31 That was his buy out clause which we paid not the one we set
3

topguy added 19:43 - Jul 31 He doesn't have a buyout if he does it will be higher, that's the max we had to pay for him.
2

thacks added 19:43 - Jul 31 Oh yes just noticed that
0

blue86 added 19:45 - Jul 31 Sounds like a decent signing! Welcome to ipswich, really looking forward to the new season. COYB
1

runningout added 19:52 - Jul 31 I'll be honest... My first reaction was ''Is that it''...
-7

runaround added 20:00 - Jul 31 Sounds a promising player in a position we were desperately short in. What's not to like about that! Welcome Jonas. If these other 2 potential signings happen by Monday then I think we're set
1

ArnieM added 20:03 - Jul 31 Hmm £8m+ for out going LB, PLUS two excellent attacking players FREE, PLUS an outlay of a mere £350k on potentially a better left back. Mick McCarthy , you bloody magician!!
17

bluefeast added 20:07 - Jul 31 Love the above post Arnie ,spot on merlin Mick strikes again
2

RegencyBlue added 20:19 - Jul 31 Looks like a potentially good signing. Now any chance of a right back!!!
1

HarryfromBath added 20:43 - Jul 31 The thought of Jonas Knudsen and Ryan Fraser creating mayhem for opponents on our left flank is just wonderful to contemplate. Welcome to our club, Jonas - you will be well looked after.
8

PJH added 20:55 - Jul 31 Welcome Jonas,you are joining a very good football club.
1

jas0999 added 21:00 - Jul 31 Great news. Now for two further signings AND if necessary Giles Coke. Welcome Jonas.
4

TrumptonBlue added 21:04 - Jul 31 A young full international? Terrific. Most exciting signing in years.
2

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