Town have confirmed the signing of Everton defender Callum Connolly on a season-long loan.

Connolly, 19, is primarily an attacking right-back, who can also operate as a centre-half. However, Town have signed him with a view to playing on the right as cover for Jordan Spence and Dominic Iorfa, both of whom are options to play at the centre of the defence during the Blues' current centre-half injury crisis.

We understand Town are still pursuing their move for Brighton's Connor Goldson but with time appearing to be running out on that deal with the 11pm deadline approaching.

As reported this morning, the Seagulls have been unwilling to allow the 24-year-old to move out on loan until they have signed another central defender.

Delighted to have joined @Official_ITFC on loan, looking forward to the challenge ahead 👍🏻– Callum Connolly (@Callum1connolly) August 31, 2017

Liverpool-born Connolly, who has won England caps at U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels, came through the youth system at Everton, with whom he has made one Premier League sub appearance, and has previously spent time on loan at Barnsley and Wigan.

Having made three starts for the Tykes during a month-long spell towards the end of 2015/16, he spent the second half of last season with the Latics, making 15 starts and three sub appearances, scoring twice.

In the summer he was with the England U20s squad as they won their World Cup in South Korea, making appearances in two of the Young Lions' early games.

Connolly will join up with his new Town team-mates for the first time on Monday.

Photo: Action Images

dirtydingusmagee added 22:24 - Aug 31 strange , but hey ho, he seems like a versatile player which suits McCarthy, welome to Town
3

cleggo added 22:24 - Aug 31 this will solve our problems of full backs playing centre back whilst we have none fit...... oh wait
0

GTRKing added 22:26 - Aug 31 We are trying to get goldson before 11 & this player is RB/RCB/LCB/LB so will help us fill the CB gap. Mick done well this window
5

WestSussexBlue added 22:28 - Aug 31 I think various plans haven't fallen into place to get an outright CB but this is a highly rated young player that is comfortable across the back . Very good move.
3

prebbs007 added 22:28 - Aug 31 This kid seems very highly rated but I don't see how he can possibly be cover for our 3 missing CENTRE BACKS !!! We still need to bring in someone to play in the middle. Spence & Knudsen are not the answer as Fulham comprehensively proved. Come on Marcus don't waste our start by not delivering the experience and organisation we need at CB.
4

blue added 22:40 - Aug 31 Ok the score is , its 10.40pm we could of signed nobody we got a suprise , we all welcome you and anyone else within the next 20 minutes. Lets see how it goes prove people wrong Callum , all the best .
2

heathen66 added 22:42 - Aug 31 Wow...didn't see another RB coming...we already have too many RBs that we have just loaned 2 of our own out in Fowler and Emmanuel. We have Iorfa that is a RB/CB but is playing RB and Spence who is solely a RB but playing CB. Baffled !!!! Hopefully there is still an experienced CB on his way, but time is indeed ticking !!!
2

GTRKing added 22:46 - Aug 31 Looks likely it won't happy but who knows got 15 mins left
1

Daleyitfc added 22:46 - Aug 31 Waste of time : as usual, just sign any old rubbish that no-one else wants, even if we don't need anyone in that position.
-4

Seasider added 22:47 - Aug 31 This is not the' hairy arsed defender'(Micks words)that he wanted. We shall know in half an hour if this was the last desperate throw of the dice we have been used to in the past. I presume that this young fellow would play at right back,as Iorfa was dreadful there on Saturday.It would then give MM the option of Iorfa moving inside,as he is built like a centre half. I am sure though that this is not what McCarthy had in mind initially,as certainly doesn't add the experience the Manager said he was looking for.

4

timkatieadamitfc added 22:48 - Aug 31 CUE THE - WITH THIS ONE. Words fail me with this one, ok he might be a potentially good player with young lion experience but he is just not what we NEED at the minute(WHAT ABOUT THE HAIRY ASRED DEFENDERS MM WAS SAYING WERE NEEDED IN THIS LEAGUE 2 WEEKS AGO) What does it say about the emmanuels/woollfendens already at the club when we go and sign a player with very little experience himself(PLAY ONE OF OUR OWN ALREADY AT THE FECKIN CLUB) With the FANTASTIC start we have had I was hoping ME would sanction a deal to get a good CB in permanently. Sorry to sound negative but everyone saw the job Fulham did on us,they were in a different league,sounds like with the Derby game postponed we are just trying to get by until we have players back from injury which could prove costly. Hope I'm wrong because I can't believe where we are in table with all injuries/sickness I've never known a period like it,we have been so unlucky. WILL BE VERY INTERESTING WHEN MM HAS A FULLY FIT SQUAD AT HIS DISPOSAL. Me thinks the Fulham game would have been a different story. COYB

1

BrettenhamBlue added 22:55 - Aug 31 My mate from Oldham is furious, this is the guy they've been targeting for the last two weeks. Our equivalent of Goldson. They were fully expecting him to sign for them.
2

TrumptonBlue added 22:56 - Aug 31 Would much rather we used our own teenage defenders. Not much reward for them for a decent showing at Palace if Connolly moves ahead of them in the queue.
0

blue added 22:59 - Aug 31 Excellent we just signed centre backs get in there :) https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=3+STOOGES&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKE
0

coolcat added 23:07 - Aug 31 Welcome to Ipswich, Callum. :)
6

northblue added 23:08 - Aug 31 Welcome to Ipswich. Looking forward to seeing u play
5

madmouse1959 added 23:09 - Aug 31 Brilliant signing.....................
3

TimmyH added 23:20 - Aug 31 hhmmmm, trying to get my head around this, we've signed a 19 year old who was part of the relegated Wigan side of last season and what we really needed was a central defender. Haven't we signed on loan Iorfa in Connolly's preferred position. Just strange, seems like a panic loanee.
4

yungblue added 23:33 - Aug 31 Think Iorfa has been very poor, he isn't good enough if truth be told, but when everyone fit Spence will be at RB. Little bit of a desperation signing by the looks of it.
1

Spanishblueblood added 23:36 - Aug 31 Needed a cb, signed a rb that can cover at cb if needed but is no specialist cb, smacks of desperation to me! Is he any better than our youngsters, probably not a lot in it and once again we are blooding other teams youngsters instead of our own, flippin disgraceful imo! Meanwhile, the happy clappy brigade applaud any signings, good or bad! Wake up ITFC, this happens every friggin transfer window!

0

wayway added 23:40 - Aug 31 Best news of the day, Johnny Williams has signed for Sunderland treatment table on a season long loan
1

GiveusaWave added 23:40 - Aug 31 I still believe that we will make a signing, just might be from the free transfer list. Welcome to the club Callum.
1

ipswich4life added 23:44 - Aug 31 What happend to not playing kids at cb? No experinced cb fit at the club,had plenty of time to sign someone,but as usual club cuts corners to save few quid,Clubs a joke has been since evans took over
2

floridaboy added 03:31 - Sep 1 Moaning b@ggers on here!!! Maybe the clubs involved wanted a stupid loan figures to let players come here. Chambers will be back in a couple of weeks. Good luck to the boy!
3

itfcgene added 04:49 - Sep 1 If we just played with 3 rb's it would solve the problem.
-1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls