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

ImAbeliever added 20:04 - Jul 12 This signing came out of the blue for me. I've been going over all of the other signings made and I can believe how impressive they all look to be. Fantastic work by the club. Welcome to ITFC Joe and thanks for choosing us.
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runaround added 20:11 - Jul 12 Welcome Joe
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blues1 added 20:31 - Jul 12 ImAbeliever. Just a question but what has Warne got to do with this signing?
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markchips added 20:34 - Jul 12 It is going to be some team if we seal Crooks and Celina signings
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:47 - Jul 12 good bit of business done again, cant say the new regime arent up for it. Welcome to Town Joe. We are due another legend, could this be the man who fits the hat ? Time will tell .COYB
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WimborneBlue added 20:51 - Jul 12 Bit concerned about the lack of tattoos. Not really showing much commitment.
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atty added 20:56 - Jul 12 Reference to bully boy teams a valid one. We were bullied too often last season, especially in midfield. If we get Crooks, added to Evans and Harper no ones going to bully any of them.
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ImAbeliever added 21:34 - Jul 12 Good question Blues 1. I have no idea.
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howdonblue added 21:39 - Jul 12 Great signing 💙
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coldwarkid01 added 21:49 - Jul 12 I'm sorry, but I am now offended by Monkey Blues negative diatribes, is that enough to have him removed from this forum or am I too old to be woke !!!!!!
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wellhungphil added 22:59 - Jul 12 I've been following AFC Wimbledon for several years now - sorry to see him leave The Real Dons, especially given his contribution to yet another late-season great-escape act from the London club, but if he's given the right sort of service, Joe Pigott will certainly prove to be an absolutely smashing signing. A very intelligent footballer, decent from set pieces and a hard worker to boot. Excellent news!

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cranky_old_tractor added 23:15 - Jul 12 Quality signing. Team shaping up nicely but a few more needed. Crooks and Celina pls
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istanblue added 23:17 - Jul 12 Basically a far superior version of Oli 'Where's the Goal?' Hawkins.
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KiwiBlue2 added 00:26 - Jul 13 If we can land Crooks, Celina and a dominating and experienced cb I will be more than happy.
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shakytown added 02:01 - Jul 13 Coldwark. Send a message to Phil ham. I have and he got rid of the other troll bettyblue. If enough people message him he will get rid of him as well. go to the main page and use the contact us at the bottom of the page. other than that just think how sad the little trolls life really is.
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Eddie1985 added 03:39 - Jul 13 Don't really see that it's fair or just to use this signing to have a dig at Hawkins. This lad seems decent anyway so hopefully he will replace Norwood who was disappointing last season and if he wasn't a scouser would be in the u 23 squad, one of the notes that should of been included was u23 squad subject to change at managers discretion unless your a scouser in which case your under achievement last season will be forgiven without question

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Eddie1985 added 03:40 - Jul 13 Don't really see that it's fair or just to use this signing to have a dig at Hawkins. This lad seems decent anyway so hopefully he will replace Norwood who was disappointing last season and if he wasn't a scouser would be in the u 23 squad, one of the notes that should of been included was u23 squad subject to change at managers discretion unless your a scouser in which case your under achievement last season will be forgiven without question

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Eddie1985 added 03:40 - Jul 13 Don't really see that it's fair or just to use this signing to have a dig at Hawkins. This lad seems decent anyway so hopefully he will replace Norwood who was disappointing last season and if he wasn't a scouser would be in the u 23 squad, one of the notes that should of been included was u23 squad subject to change at managers discretion unless your a scouser in which case your under achievement last season will be forgiven without question

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Wooly74 added 07:25 - Jul 13 Eddie 1985-Norwood is not a scouser!!!!
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Wooly74 added 07:27 - Jul 13 He is originally from Eastbourne, some distance away from the north west 🤦‍♂️
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bluesteel added 07:35 - Jul 13 can we sell norwood while he is fit
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Help added 07:52 - Jul 13 Norwood sliding down the pecking order me thinks.
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GTRKing added 08:10 - Jul 13 Great LG1 Striker Joe Pigott will score 15-25 goals this season 20 goals for a team near the bottom is smashing bit of Business. Bonne Norwood Pigott What's not it like Now we need 2 CB's RB (To help Vincent young) LM/LW We are gonna smash it next season :)
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Linkboy13 added 08:27 - Jul 13 Looks like it could be a 442 with Pigott leading the line and either Bonne or Norwood partnering him. Now that we have midfield that looks physically strong and aggressive with no lack of creativity as well we now can afford this luxury. It now looks like Downes is going to Bournemouth which i think is a very good move for him although he might have to be patient for his first team opportunities. Hopefully this will provide the funds to speed up the Crooks deal and it's another one off the wage list. Surely Downes must be worth something around the million pounds mark although this might cause Rotherham to up their price even more in which case it's probably best to look elsewhere.

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inghamspur added 09:15 - Jul 13 Good signing and things really starting to take shape. Need centre backs and another keeper before I start to believe that we can really do well next season.
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