Town have confirmed the signing of striker Leon Best on a one-year deal with an option for a further season. Yesterday, TWTD revealed that the 29-year-old was in talks with the Blues regarding a deal having caught manager Mick McCarthy's eye while on trial.

“Leon did well last week. I was impressed,” manager Mick McCarthy told the club website.

“He knows this league. He’s got that physical presence and he will add to the options we have got up front. We are delighted to have him here.”

Best spent time with hometown club Notts County as a youngster before moving to Southampton's youth set-up from the Magpies, his close friend David McGoldrick later making the same switch.

The pair were both in the Saints U18s side the Blues defeated in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final.

Best, who is 6ft 1in tall, subsequently moved on to QPR (loan), Sheffield Wednesday (three loans), Yeovil (loan), Bournemouth (loan), Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Derby (loan) and Brighton (loan) before joining Rotherham in November 2015.

Last season he scored four goals in 10 starts and six sub appearances for the Millers and netted against the Blues in their 1-0 victory at Portman Road in March. Having been released by the South Yorkshire club at the end of 2015/16, he had been in talks with League One Port Vale.

He has won seven full Ireland caps in addition to making appearances at U17, U19 and U21 levels.

Best's recruitment is likely to be the start of a busy couple of days at Portman Road with the Blues looking to add to their squad before Wednesday's 11pm deadline.

Burnley's Michael Kightly is understood to be close to sealing a move, while Town are also keen on his Clarets team-mate Lukas Jutkiewicz as McCarthy looks to find a like-for-like replacement for Daryl Murphy, who joined Newcastle over the weekend.

Photos: Action Images/ITFC

runaround added 11:33 - Aug 30 Welcome to ITFC Leon. Here's hoping your time here is a successful one
41

iaintaylorx added 11:34 - Aug 30 Doesn't set the pulses raising to be honest, but let's hope he changes all our opinions on him and not slate him before he has kicked a ball in a town shirt. Doesn't look like there is going to be much money spent, considering the window shuts tomorrow, like Milne said last week, which is disgusting. You see Newcastle splashing obscene fees for players and we're going for freebies. I'm not saying I want to buy us out the league, but like I have said before, you have to spend fees to get the right players in and ones that are proven at this level. Sadly, money talks nowadays. Anyway, let's hope he is the striker we have been crying to replace Murphy..

16

paulcooperisgod added 11:34 - Aug 30 if he gets the number 9 shirt im finished with MM
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TractorBoy666 added 11:38 - Aug 30 I'm hoping this isn't a signing of desperation and we can add a number one option to put up top instead. With didzy out till November and the loss of Murphy, Sears playing out wide we only really have Pitman, Varney and now Best. Here's hoping MM has something up his sleeve and gives us a surprising signing out of the blue!
3

Currie10 added 11:38 - Aug 30 Plenty of ability, attitude the problem. That said, if Warnock had him and Mick is willing to then I'm more than happy. Welcome aboard.
20

Gingerblues added 11:41 - Aug 30 If this is Murphy's replacement it says everything about where the club is at the moment. I'll wait until the window shuts to pass judgement.
4

JimmyJazz added 11:41 - Aug 30 Since being at Newcastle he's had some terrible spells at clubs.......... but that seemed to change at Rotherham and he was a part of their remarkable form at the end of last season.
14

BlueGoonie added 11:41 - Aug 30 Sensible option to give him a year, if he chips in with 10+ goals well worth it. Welcome to the club Leon, time to prove the doubters wrong
15

TimmyH added 11:41 - Aug 30 1 year deal? Not sure whether that smacks of lack of confidence in him to give him a 2 year deal or not. Last 57 games he's scored 8 goals which is not prolific with teams such as Derby and Sheffield Wednesday (where he didn't even score). Wish him luck though but not overly awe inspired.
6

hoppy added 11:42 - Aug 30 I think he's a decent addition, to be honest. He was in the building even before Murphy's move came about, so hopefully was always going to be an alternative rather than a replacement. Seems to make sense to include the option for a further year as well if all good, rather than committing outright to a 2yr deal a la Giles Coke... Hopefully, it works out well. He's the right side of 30 too.

19

itfc94 added 11:45 - Aug 30 This is one of them signings where I'd be quite happy if he proved me wrong..... Varney doesn't score goals, and nor does Best. Sears is shot of confidence and playing out of position. Pitman a proven goal-scorer, but unlucky to be left out because of Murphy, may get more of an opportunity now I hope. It's not exactly going to rain goals though.
4

carsey added 11:46 - Aug 30 Look ladies and gents he is here now so while like many I am not over impressed I say we have to support him. I question why we would sign a player who has failed to settle anywhere for very long with some raising questions over his attitude but hopefully he will get it right here at Portman Road and go on to be a success for us.
9

PJH added 11:46 - Aug 30 Welcome Leon. Ticks most of the boxes at this level and should be a very useful addition to the squad.
17

hadleighboyblue added 11:46 - Aug 30 Best was being talked about before Murphy left , so this signing should not be any sort of replacement for Murphy . The Murphy money has to be spent well - not on crocked players that have hardly played , we desperately need a goalscorer , but let's go for someone with a future , not someone past his best .
5

HarryS_H added 11:47 - Aug 30 He has a vast amount of experience at a range of clubs and if he's going free he's definitely worth having. And if anyone can get the best out of him it's mick and Terry for sure! Good luck to him!
10

Surco72 added 11:48 - Aug 30 Good luck Leon I hope you prove me and others wrong , still smacks of desperation to me if we have no one else lined up to replace Murphy and Dids
1

tractorboy12341234 added 11:49 - Aug 30 "FANTASTIC NEWS" - every other championship club
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StuartBrett8 added 11:52 - Aug 30 Prove the doubters wrong... welcome aboard and all the Best ;)
8

Len_Brennan added 11:56 - Aug 30 He's not a replacement for Murphy, hence the continued interest in Jutkiewicz, so let's put those criticisms on hold until we see what else happens. McGoldrick is out & could be missing until November, so with Sears not scoring & Pitman just back, we had to bring someone in even before Murphy left. As for Best, the truth is that he is a very decent striker at Championship level WHEN FIT. He is strong & direct and will seriously add to our options if his injury problems are behind him. There have been times in the past when I thought he was a really good striker & destined for bigger things, but then he suffered another injury & it all went downhill again. The positive thing is that he is fit to play now, looks strong & is only 29, which is a very good age for a striker. Also he knows that he will be entering the latter stages of his career & earnings potential over the next few years, so this is going to be a very important period for him to make a serious impression & earn one big last contract, as Murphy has done. He has the ability & experience to do it; my concern is whether he has the ability to stay fit & the Town medical staff are far more qualified than us to make that assessment. Good luck Leon, hope you do well for all our sakes.

15

rickw added 11:57 - Aug 30 He has a career goals to game ratio of about 1 in 4, but bear in mind when we signed Murphy his was about 1 in 6. Mick would have spoken to Neil Warnock about him and probably Grant Ward too, he's always looked like a handful and I'd back Mick to play to his strengths and get the best out of him. I still hope the Murphy money will be used to bring in some quality though!

10

Townie29 added 12:02 - Aug 30 To be fair, we were top of the league with Conor Sammon. Good back up and squad player. Hopefully the Murphy money won't be spent on a target man but more a pacey stricker to help with our new style of play in the mould of Andre Gray, Callum Wilson, etc.
6

BlueMachines added 12:02 - Aug 30 Good luck and may you score lots of goals!
5

Michael11 added 12:05 - Aug 30 Good luck Leon. The potential seems to be there in his career and with Mick and Terry working with him it could be a fresh start for him. I'll certainly give him a chance before judging him. I'd be pretty happy with Kightly if he's still the same player as 3 seasons ago. I've personally never rated Jutkiewicz but like Best, I'd give him a chance.
4

BlueInBerks added 12:08 - Aug 30 Sensible watch, I like him already
2

12th_Man added 12:09 - Aug 30 Welcome to ITFC pleases ignore some of our fans they know absolutely nothing
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