Town have confirmed the signing of former AFC Wimbledon striker Joe Pigott on a free transfer. The frontman has penned a three-year deal.

Pigott left the Dons at the end of last season and had been linked with a number of Championship and League One clubs, including Bristol City, Luton Town, Sunderland and Portsmouth.

The 27-year-old had been training with his former club while he found himself a new side.

“It was a very tough decision to leave Wimbledon," he toldiFollow Ipswich. "I was really comfortable there and happy but felt that if I wanted to improve and keep going forward then I had to take on a new challenge.

“There was interest from clubs above League One but Ipswich is a massive club and it feels the right move for me.

“All the foundations are in place, with what’s been going on behind the scenes and when you speak to people here who show belief in you, then that means a lot.

“It’s an exciting move for me and I can’t wait to get going now. Obviously promotion is the aim but hopefully we can kick on from there as well.”

Town boss Paul Cook said: “To get a lad of Joe’s quality across the line is an absolutely massive plus for everyone at the club.

“Twenty goals last season speaks volumes for itself. The reality is that if you don’t score goals, you won’t win football games.

“To get someone of Joe’s calibre in, with his goalscoring record; we’re all excited and looking forward to working with him.”

Town CEO Mark Ashton added: “We have been competing with Championship clubs for Joe so we are obviously delighted that he has decided to join us.

“It’s a show of support for what we are trying to achieve at this football club that he has committed his future to us and we wish him every success here.”

Maidstone-born Pigott came through the youth ranks at Charlton and spent time on loan at Bromley, Gillingham, Newport County, Southend and Luton while at the Valley.

He moved on to Cambridge United in 2016, then hometown club Maidstone the following year following a loan.

The 6ft 2in striker joined Wimbledon in January 2018 and went on to score 54 goals in 130 starts and 27 sub appearances, 22 of them last season.

Pigott becomes the Blues’ seventh signing of the summer with Ashton having said last week that he was expecting at least five further additions.

Photo: ITFC

DavefromWatford added 17:47 - Jul 12 BeattiesBackPocket, Totally agree with you monkeyblue never satisfied. this could be one of our best signings.
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blues1 added 17:51 - Jul 12 Monkeyblue. My god. U get worse by the week. Guess us only be happy if we were signing messi or kane? Get real. We are in lge1 and this is an excellent signing. The fact you say you know nothing about him shows how little football knowledge you have.
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Wooly74 added 17:52 - Jul 12 Great signing for this level and there was a lot of interest around for this lad 👍
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blues1 added 17:54 - Jul 12 Blues man. What are you on about? We had a squad last season of around 45 players. Weve lost 20. Weve signed 7. Around 6 of last seasons squad are now training with the u23s. Work it out for urself what size our squad already is.
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Suffolkboy added 17:56 - Jul 12 Exactly the right area of the field to be focused upon ; Bonne looked useful on Sat and Norwood committed ; equally competition and differing talents and options are essential .It'll be interesting to observe how PC fits the jigsaw together ,and what systems he employs to get the best out of his squad . Also interesting was the attention being given to Norwood ,with particular warming down exercise and running over distance at half time before being rested for the second half at Dartford . Everything points to this being not only a good signing ,but a potentially significant cog in the wheel !Coyb

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Suffolkboy added 17:57 - Jul 12 Exactly the right area of the field to be focused upon ; Bonne looked useful on Sat and Norwood committed ; equally competition and differing talents and options are essential .It'll be interesting to observe how PC fits the jigsaw together ,and what systems he employs to get the best out of his squad . Also interesting was the attention being given to Norwood ,with particular warming down exercise and running over distance at half time before being rested for the second half at Dartford . Everything points to this being not only a good signing ,but a potentially significant cog in the wheel !Coyb

3

jas0999 added 18:24 - Jul 12 Quality signing for League One. Looking forward to more!
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jollyroger added 18:28 - Jul 12 New he was available on a free ,and several clubs were after him including championship teams , didn't think we would get him , I'm very happy with this one , cant wait for season to start c o y b
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essexccc added 18:30 - Jul 12 No-one with any knowledge of League 1 can possibly think this isn't a very good signing. His stats speak for themselves, as does the nature of the teams whom we beat to sign him. Must be a big coup by Mark Ashton and the new regime. Well done!
15

johnwarksshorts added 18:36 - Jul 12 21 goals last season, stats speak for themselves, what's not to like. Great work by Ashton and team especially as he was also coveted by championship clubs.
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planetblue_2011 added 18:38 - Jul 12 Get in great signing👍 Welcome Joe! Good bit of business
5

TimmyH added 18:40 - Jul 12 Looks like we can do no wrong this summer with the signings reading the posts, we'll find out in the coming months if he's any better than what we already have/had. All the same wish Joe all the best with his time here.
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blue86 added 18:43 - Jul 12 This has made my day, I said I wanted piggot weeks ago, exactly the type of striker we need. Well done town 👏
6

braveblue added 18:47 - Jul 12 Good news. And very well done again by proper management team.
6

ipswich134 added 18:48 - Jul 12 Come to think of the chairman and managers who said we were spending big. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing at all ! It makes everyone in this league think we are a BIG club and should sign for us ! Lol ! Great signing !
4

bluewarrior added 18:51 - Jul 12 Cracking signing. Thought he looked very sharp against us last season.
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ImAbeliever added 18:51 - Jul 12 Has anyone told Warne?
1

Dog added 18:52 - Jul 12 This is a good signing. Better than what we had, proven at this level and plays a consistent amount of games, ie, not injured. Will create competition for places and with height, possibly give Cook a plan b, which he lacked last season. Also, height will help us defend corners against the big bully boy teams, so in my opinion, winner winner, chicken dinner - although i am having sausages and new potatoes (from garden). Good outside bet to be top scorer in league 1

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SpiritOfJohn added 18:52 - Jul 12 Great signing. Scoring 20 goals in a team that struggled at the wrong end of the table is no mean feat. Good in the air and excellent work rate. Things are beginning to shape up nicely, but we still need a commanding centre half.
4

Gforce added 19:03 - Jul 12 A fantastic signing.Well done Mark Ashton and co for keeping this one quiet until completed. I think this guy will be out first choice striker. Not sure where all this leaves Jackson,probably 4th choice or out the door.
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Roo added 19:12 - Jul 12 Having been at Wembley last night I needed a lift today and this has certainly improved my mood. Well done team in securing this especially without the leaks and to Phil for also keeping it quiet…. Like many suggest I think a strong centre half and some width to feed the pig is needed next but I have every confidence in this regime to deliver when the time is right. COYB
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Trac70 added 19:14 - Jul 12 Very good signing. Please don't give some of these "so called" Town fans on here the pleasure of replying to their "Stupid" comments.
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Ryorry added 19:23 - Jul 12 Says something about our new management team and owners that we can beat off Championship teams for a 20-goal season quality striker - welcome aboard Joe, you've endeared yourself to me already with that reference to us being a massive club!
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Bergholtblue added 19:37 - Jul 12 Cook plays 1 up front, so where does this leave Bonne and Norwood? Bonne looks like he is versatile and can play behind, but Norwood needs to work his socks off and stay fit to play any part next season. 3 solid strikers at the club, when did we last have that? Day by day the excitement begins to build!
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oldshuck added 19:52 - Jul 12 Joseph David Wozencroft Pigott - worth signing for the name alone!
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