Town have confirmed the signing of Salford City keeper Vaclav Hladky, TWTD having revealed the Blues were close to landing the 30-year-old yesterday afternoon.

The Czech has signed a three-year deal with the club for an undisclosed fee.

“It’s been an absolutely perfect day. I’ve signed the contract and I’m so happy to be here," Hladky told iFollow Ipswich.

“Ipswich Town is a huge club so it was a quick decision. I got the offer and I said ‘yes I want to be there’ straight away. I share the vision of the club and I can't wait to get started.”

Manager Paul Cook added: “The goalkeeper is such an important position on the pitch and once again our owners have backed us with this signing.

“He will have a massive part to play for us next season. This is another part of the jigsaw that we are putting together.”

Hladky was ever-present for Salford during 2020/21, his only season at the club, making 53 appearances.

Capped by the Czech Republic at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels, Hladky claimed the League Two Golden Glove award in 2020/21 after keeping 22 clean sheets, a place in the PFA League Two Team of the Year and was named the Ammies’ fans’ Player of the Year.

Hladky was a young player with hometown club Zbrojovka Brno, featuring for their B side and then their first team and spending loan spells with MSK Breclav, Sparta Brno, Lisen and Town’s 2002 UEFA Cup opponents Slovan Liberec, a move which became permanent in 2015.

After four years largely as second-choice at Liberec, the 6ft 2in tall keeper moved on to St Mirren in January 2019 where he made 59 starts.

The highlight of his spell with St Mirren was saving three penalties in their Scottish Premiership play-off penalty shoot-out with Dundee United in May 2019, following a 1-1 draw, to secure their place in the division for another season.

He joined Salford in August last year, signing a two-year deal, and his Paul Cooper-esque penalties prowess was again to the fore in their victory as he made another spot-kick save as they won a Papa John's Trophy tie against Rotherham 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on his debut.

Then in March, in the delayed 2019/20 EFL Trophy final, he saved from Portsmouth's Ronan Curtis as they won the shoot-out 4-2 following a 0-0 draw.

The Blues are expected to look for two keepers this summer with Dai Cornell having already left the club and Tomas Holy among those told he can find a new club.

Town are also closing in on the addition of Matt Penney, who is a free agent having left Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old was at the club today to undergo a medical and complete the formalities on his move to Portman Road.

Photo: ITFC

AK74 added 20:16 - Jun 28 Very happy with this. Looked good in the Salford documentary. I would have no problem with Hladky being our No1 with Holy remaining as back up. I'm sure they'll become great Czech mates.
3

blues1 added 20:20 - Jun 28 Monkeyblue. What are u on about? Evans is a quality signing.
2

istanblue added 20:23 - Jun 28 ''Capped by the Czech Republic at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels, Hladky claimed the League Two Golden Glove award in 2020/21 after keeping 22 clean sheets, a place in the PFA League Two Team of the Year and was named the Ammies' fans' Player of the Year.'' Exactly the kind of player we should be signing - someone who has achieved something RECENTLY. Great signing and a big step up on Holy and Cornell.

4

ringwoodblue added 20:45 - Jun 28 Thanks Serbia (and OldBoy). Let's hope he keeps at least 22 clean sheets next season.
2

KernewekBlue added 20:54 - Jun 28 Seems like a good bit of business given his recent CV. Get Siegrist in now to provide some competition for the shirt and the keeper's position is sorted. Waiting to see who else gets ushered in through the gates to complete the rebuild and hopefully take us where we want to go... exciting times ahead! Onwards and upwards.
0

miltonsnephew added 20:55 - Jun 28 Hope the new gk coach rates him. I do hope based on the signings we're making these should be thought of as good enough for the championship or we'll be doing another rebuild next summer, if promoted.
0

Marv added 20:58 - Jun 28 Great clip Unhinged Dynamo... This fella has very quick reflexes!
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:23 - Jun 28 Miltonsnephew that's a ridiculous statement. Course we'd have to invest again that's like saying if you have a championship squad and got promoted to the premier league we wouldn't need to invest you always invest in the team again if or when you go up?
3

mojo added 22:21 - Jun 28 The best thing about this signing will be listening to Alex Mathie trying to pronounce his name right during commentary next season
1

greenkingtone added 23:06 - Jun 28 Well done ITFC. Decent keeper in.
0

GTRKing added 23:07 - Jun 28 Good GK like the sound of him, From his interview looks like holy ain't leaving & impressed cook so in first team training, Save on wages to spend else where, But all sounds promising, let see what happens
0

Taricco_Fan added 23:51 - Jun 28 Welcome to the club, Vaclav.
0

Marcus added 23:55 - Jun 28 Keepers are a different life form to other players. If they do well at a lower level then they're usually good at a higher one as their game doesn't really need to change in the same way outfield players need. Good luck, looks like we now have the edge pieces of the jigsaw.
1

HARRY10 added 23:58 - Jun 28 The name is pronounced as lad kee the H is silent
0

itfcserbia added 06:04 - Jun 29 Harry10 H is not silent, he's Czech not French. https://forvo.com/word/v%C3%A1clav_hladk%C3%BD/ For all of you including Alex Mathie...
2

Linkboy13 added 06:38 - Jun 29 I think Karlosfantangal and Monkeyblue are drinking partners and had a bit too much of the old sauce.
0

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 06:43 - Jun 29 We're in League One, we didn't pay a fee for a backup keeper. He's started and done well for three years after sitting the bench most of his career, he didn't sign with us to be backup keeper. He's our guy. Full stop.
0

emergencylime added 09:32 - Jun 29 Be interesting to see if this is as well as, or instead of, Siegrist, in the context of agents and paper talk inflating player prices when clubs come knocking with money. Could be that Town had a limit for the Dundee keeper and will walk away if necessary. Welcome, Vas. Certainly looks the part
0

DebsyAngel added 10:37 - Jun 29 Welcome Vaclav - looking forward to seeing you in between the sticks for us.
0

DebsyAngel added 10:37 - Jun 29 Welcome Vaclav - looking forward to seeing you in between the sticks for us.
0

DebsyAngel added 10:37 - Jun 29 Welcome Vaclav - looking forward to seeing you in between the sticks for us.
0

Monkey_Blue added 15:15 - Jun 29 blues1…. Evans? Really, he's ok, but part of a Wigan side who just stayed up and at championship level he was bang average. When has he ever looked better than decent? Please tell me you've followed his career avidly and have press cuttings from all his games. He's so so. If he was better he'd have signed for a decent championship club instead of choosing between us or Wigan.

-2

Monkey_Blue added 15:15 - Jun 29 blues1…. Evans? Really, he's ok, but part of a Wigan side who just stayed up and at championship level he was bang average. When has he ever looked better than decent? Please tell me you've followed his career avidly and have press cuttings from all his games. He's so so. If he was better he'd have signed for a decent championship club instead of choosing between us or Wigan.

-2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls