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Town Confirm Roberts Signing Thursday, 28th Jun 2018 11:05
Town have confirmed the signing of former Crawley Town winger Jordan Roberts on a free transfer. The 24-year-old, who will officially become a Blues player on July 1st, has signed a two-year deal.
TWTD revealed yesterday that Town had made a move for Roberts, who was also interesting Bolton and Hearts.
Roberts, who becomes new manager Paul Hurst's first permanent Blues signing, left League Two Crawley at the end of last season having previously been among the players Hurst was chasing during his time at Shrewsbury.
“I’m over the moon to get the deal done and join such a big club,” Roberts told iFollow Ipswich.
“I want to go as far as I can and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to express myself here and hopefully give the fans something to cheer about.
“I’ve enjoyed my spells with different clubs but I would say that this move has come at the right time for me. It’s a chance for me to get out there on a bigger stage, at a good club and show everyone what I can do.
“Overall I would say I’m a player that likes to get on the ball, create chances and generally be as exciting as possible.
“And having had a brief chat with the manager and some of the lads, I just can’t wait to get to work.”
A youth player with Peterborough and Aldershot, Roberts broke into senior football with the Hampshire side, playing in both League Two and the National League during four seasons and making 68 starts and 24 sub appearances, scoring 12 goals. He also won two England C caps, scoring once.
Early on during his stint with the Shots he also had short spells in non-league on loan at Havant and Waterlooville, Tamworth and Bishop’s Stortford before eventually joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a permanent basis in 2015.
After one season in the Scottish Premiership - nine starts, four sub appearances and three goals - the Watford-born left-sided wideman moved on to Crawley on a free transfer.
During his two seasons at the Checkatrade Stadium Roberts, who is 6ft 1in tall, made 42 starts and 20 sub appearances, scoring 11 goals.
Roberts caught the eye of Blues boss Hurst during his time as Shrews manager and he made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him on deadline day in January.
He eventually left Crawley at the end the season and a week ago was reported to be close to making a return to Scotland to join Hearts having visited the Edinburgh club and been given a tour of Tynecastle and their Oriam training ground. Bolton Wanderers were also said to be keen.
Roberts’s signing will be far from new boss Hurst’s final bit of business before the transfer window closes on August 9th.
With Adam Webster departing - and the centre-half is unlikely to be the last exit as Hurst puts his own stamp on the squad - the Blues will need at least one more senior central defender, perhaps two, having already signed Trevoh Chalobah on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Hurst will almost certainly be after another winger, while he may also be looking to add to his strikers.
Meanwhile, winger Alex Rodman has left Shrewsbury having turned down a new contract. The 31-year-old was a key member of Hurst’s Shrews side and may be someone he could consider bringing to Town.
Photos: ITFC
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Great work. He probably will be on less than someone like Bru was, will offer a lot more, looked outstanding in the lower leagues and is a typical Hurst signing. Age wise he's perfect, got plenty of experience, with lots of potential to develop. If he doesn't work out we've lost very little, but he's one I expect to go on to be a really good first team player. More of this please PH.
Good luck to him and welcome to the start of a new era with ITFC Jordan. Statement of attacking intent from PH straightaway - liking what I'm seeing. Now let's ALL get behind the team.
Monkey blue , why not , l bet the league two best Xi would do very well in the chanplonship . Don't write them off from were they come from Welcome to postman rd Jordon
I am still really disappointed at losing our best defender to a potential rival. I say rival but Bristol City are obviously more ambitious ! Good luck to Jordan though :)
Look there's no point in having a moan some of you about not making big money signings. We're in a lot of debt and Evans has already said there's not a lot of money for new players. It will be signings from the lower leagues so get used to it.
I,m sure I,m feeling rough as had a late night last night,but this is a winger with a left foot or am I seeing things,how dare hursty do this big M will be having nightmares an attacking player ye gods,hope he remembers to help our goal scorers get more & more and he becomes worth 15 million and gets 10 himself welcome and welcome to the next centre back with a left foot,beginning to wonder if our glorious leader was installed before last Xmas now with the ins &touts going to go on
Don't know a lot about him but wish him all the best whilst here and have faith in Hurst to hopefully uncover some lower league gems (but hopefully not a load of them) to save our owner shelling out next to nothing. All the best Jordan.
Why do people think we're going to reinvest the Webster money, when we've not spent the Mings or Murphy cash yet?
McCarthy didn't spend four years digging up scraps from the bargain basement because he wanted to. If Hurst is to have any sort of chance of achieving something, then Evans's has to change his approach to spending. A club can only paper over the cracks for so long, before the playing side needs an overhaul.
Nearly all of us wanted something new. Very much understand PH wants to put his own stamp on the squad, not just continue with same old, same old. That's positive. Understand too he is not going to make ready-made, big-money signings. Really hope he can deliver. I'm certainly excited by PH's fresh, honest, energetic approach.
I was disappointed with Webster being sold - but as others have pointed out, it probably is a good bit of business for someone who has not played a whole lot for us and although full of promise can be replaced.
On the other hand though, Chalobah and now Roberts - both appear good signings, probably won't have made a huge dent in our budget and if selling Webster means a bit more cash for the manager to play with than this could be a good summer of business for us.
The thing I am most impressed with is that deals are getting done, and, getting done early. PH will have a decent amount of time to assemble and work with his squad.
Bodes well.
Pleased and impressed, welcome to both Trevoh and Jordan.
Welcome to the club Jordan.. the VT looks promising, let's see if you can do it against championship defenders! All the best for your time here.. COYBs
One thing I like about these types of players from lower league, and why hurst brings them in is that they appreciate the opportunity at a higher level. They're willing to run through a brick wall for the shirt which is such a good basis. Second sentence was, “grateful for the opportunity at such a massive club”, they appreciate these opportunities which is so refreshing.
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