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Town Confirm Celina Loan Signing Monday, 3rd Jul 2017 17:05
Town have confirmed the signing of Manchester City winger Bersant Celina on a season-long loan deal.
The 20-year-old Kosovo international travelled to Ipswich yesterday to formalise his switch and to undergo a medical before flying out to Ireland with the rest of the squad for the traditional pre-season training camp at the Carton House Hotel this morning.
The remaining details relating to the deal were tied up by the clubs this afternoon.
Town beat the likes of Bolton, QPR and Leeds to land the highly-rated forward, whose previous season-long loan in Holland with FC Twente officially ended on Friday.
Celina is delighted that his switch has been confirmed and to have joined up with the Blues.
“I’m really pleased to be here and I’m looking forward to getting to know my new team-mates, the staff and everyone at the club,” he told the club site.
“Ipswich is a big club, has a big history and it’s a good place for me to be at this moment.
“I’ve had a break but now I can’t wait to get going - to train with the players and to put on the shirt and play for the team.
“I had a good loan spell in Holland last season. That helped me become a better player and hopefully it can be the same here. I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help the team.”
Prizren-born Celina, who is contracted to City until 2020, grew up in Norway from the age of two and was with Strømsgodset as schoolboy before joining Manchester City at 15.
Capped six times by Kosovo at full level, scoring once, he has made one Premier League sub appearance for City in addition to two starts and one game from the bench in the FA Cup.
Speaking at the first day of pre-season training last Monday, manager Mick McCarthy challenged Celina to emulate the success of previous loanees Ryan Fraser and Tom Lawrence.
“We’ve been looking for a replacement for Tom Lawrence," he said. "No pressure on him there, is there? Player of the year in every department.
“But Tom came in and I can’t remember everyone thinking that that was the best signing in the world.
“We’d had Ryan Fraser the year before and how good he was, but yet I never hear them mention Ryan. So I’m hoping that Bersant Celina can do that.
“He’s a similar type, right-footed, left winger, can play in behind the striker but I really want him to play in that wide left area, hopefully in a four and if necessary in a three.”
Photo: ITFC
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Welcome lad, all the best for your time here. Ryan Fraser and Tom Lawrence have beaten you already though... They both smiled in the pictures when they signed 😅
Can he at least try and look happy and say how Ipswich are a massive club with fantastic facilities and McCarthy's reputation brought him to the club. Please someone pull him to one side and explain that when you come Ipswich, it normally means the slippery slope.
Welcome Bersant. Seems to have taken a long time from when it was said he was coming to him actually signing so perhaps he was too tired to smile?! Hopefully he will be allowed to play his natural game rather than being turned into a defensive wide midfielder
Crikey he looks a happy chappy...just hope his lack of Championship experience won't be a factor (physically demanding) as opposed to the ticky tacky football he's been playing in Holland.
Out of all the new additions this one is undoubtably the one to watch. I'm all for the loan system, otherwise we would not be seeing the likes of Frazer, Lawrence or indeed this fella. A very good mate of mine is Kosovan and his absolutely raving about him.
Could be another good loan signing, if he is prepared to do the ugly things that Mick loves. Wonder why MM is trying to write Bart out of the history books and give all of his awards to Lawrence?
Hopefully another Fraser/Lawrencesque loanee season from him... well, more the Lawrence type for fitness than the Fraser type. Welcome to Town, Bersant... May it be a good move for both you and us.
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