Town have confirmed the signing of midfielder Samy Morsy from Middlesbrough on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, the Blues’ 19th and final senior addition of the transfer window.

News that Morsy was being targeted by Town emerged over the weekend but it’s believed manager Paul Cook has had his eye on his former Chesterfield and Wigan captain throughout the summer.

“I’m absolutely delighted. My relationship with Samy is there for everyone to see dating back to when we were at Chesterfield together,” Cook told the club site.

"Samy, again, has been a long-term target. He’s someone that we have had to be patient with and wait to bring in similarly to Bersant Celina.

“They were both long-term targets and we’re absolutely delighted to have them both at the club.

"I can only thank Mark Ashton and the owners for their continued backing for bringing in a strong character and a good player like Samy Morsy."

The Egyptian international was understood to be happy with Boro and wary about dropping into League One but the lure of playing for Cook once again appears to have persuaded the 29-year-old to move down a division.

Middlesbrough were unwilling to allow Morsy to depart until they added to their midfield options and just over an hour ago they confirmed the signing of James Lea Siliki on loan from Renne.

It seems likely that Cook will hand Morsy the skipper's armband worn so far this season by Lee Evans on what has always appeared a temporary basis.

Early in the window, Morsy began following Town on Twitter leading to speculation that a reunion with Cook might well be on the cards, while the Blues boss name-checked his former skipper when discussing consistency in one of his early Town press conferences.

Defensive midfielder Morsy was a youth player with hometown club Wolves and Port Vale where he made his breakthrough into senior football.

Cook took him to the Spireites in July 2013 and helped them to the League Two title in his first season, before he joined the Latics for a fee of £200,000 in January 2016 prior to the Blues boss taking over at the DW Stadium. Morsy helped Wigan to the League One titles in 2015/16 and under Cook 2017/18.

While a Latic, Morsy spent time on loan at Barnsley and joined Boro in September 2020, signing a three-year deal.

Morsy was shown a straight red card in what’s set to become his final appearance for the Teessiders, Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Blackburn.

That dismissal would see him miss three games, although Boro announced their intention to appeal.

Morsy completes a remarkable summer for the Blues with 19 senior additions - plus development squad member Callum Page - signed, while 23 professionals have departed on a permanent basis - as well as last year's six loanees - since April.

Photo: Action Images

bluesince76 added 21:54 - Aug 31 The owners and Ashton have done there bit it's now up to cook to start delivering.
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runningout added 21:58 - Aug 31 Blooming marvellous
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04willr added 21:59 - Aug 31 It might have been a slow start to the season and Cook has a lot of pressure on him to deliver, but regardless of the manager, what a squad we have assembled. Nobody can deny this is a serious upgrade from last year! COYB
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ringwoodblue added 22:00 - Aug 31 Ashton deserves a medal for what he has achieved. Cook is obviously a big reason behind these signings as the players who have played for him before will willingly drop a division or two to be reunited with him so he must take some of the credit too. Can't wait to thrash Bolton in a few weeks time. The new season starts now.
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runaround added 22:02 - Aug 31 Welcome to Portman Road Samy
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:06 - Aug 31 MUCK FEE ! Ashton has pulled it off , thought we had lost this one , Great news , Well done to all involved and welcome to Town Samy.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:14 - Aug 31 Last two days could be our most important and influential signings IMO. Tenacity and leadership in the middle of the park in morsey, an attacking threat with goals from midfield in Celina and a keeper. Despite what anyone thinks of Cook the fact people are willingly leaving championship level or choosing us over championship clubs says a lot about the man and I'm more inclined to listen to them than some fans on here. Yes he has a lot of pressure on him now to make it work but with a couple of spare weeks he has a chance to work with them all together and hopefully start gelling. Ashton, O'Leary and the owners really need to take a bow for the way they have supported the manager what a breath of fresh air from the old regime and NOBODY can say this time the owners haven't supported their manager like in the past 14 years. Exciting times ahead! COYB's

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superblues9 added 22:15 - Aug 31 No excuses now bloody good signings !!
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Europablue added 22:19 - Aug 31 luckydiddy By the stock issues that they are having with shirts, clearly sales are way above even their best expectations!
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BurleysGloryDays added 22:19 - Aug 31 Great shout LuckyDiddy, big props to big man Ed Sheeran too. Feel good factor is back with a BANG
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grinch added 22:21 - Aug 31 Well done Sdhto let's hope that Cook can now manage the new team effectively, he has been given the best opportunity by any Ipswich manager to succeed let's hope he is up for it
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Europablue added 22:24 - Aug 31 I find it difficult to pick the team now, but I guess it would be Walton KVY Edmundson Burgess Coulson Burns Harper Morsy Edwards 　　　　　Celina Bonne
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Len_Brennan added 22:30 - Aug 31 Looking beyond the first XI, we are also going to have one hell of a bench for our league matches this season.
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rgp1 added 22:32 - Aug 31 You have the goods Mr Cook NOW deliver the results!
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d77sgw added 22:32 - Aug 31 Would agree with that team Europa - does make you wonder why we splashed the cash on Piggot, Fraser and Hladky not to mention signing Evans, Aluko, Penney, Carroll, Barrie etc - I guess we're just going to have a very strong bench!!!
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JimInGreensboro added 22:35 - Aug 31 Great. Now, let's hope our final acquisition is this "Gel" lad we keep hearing so much about.
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timkatieadamitfc added 22:39 - Aug 31 Strength in depth @d77sgw, bans/injuries so forth
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Europablue added 22:41 - Aug 31 d77sgw I guess the reason we got all those players in is because of injuries, suspensions, and loss of form, but you are right, it is quite baffling. They have to all be great characters and be up for fighting for their places in the team, because a lot of players have signed expecting to be in the first team, but there isn't even enough space in the match day squad. It will be a big task to manage all the egos, but if the team start winning all that negativity will fall away.

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TimmyH added 22:54 - Aug 31 Another ex-player under PC just hope he can recoup the form that made Cookie sign him...you'd think dropping down a division from the Championship he'll be a good signing. So that's Harper, Evans, Carroll, Edwards, Fraser, Celina and Burns added in midfield...God help Cook if he doesn't get us in the play-offs, well he just won't be here. Welcome aboard Sam
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bluesteal74 added 23:03 - Aug 31 What a signing bloody brilliant today has just got better and better, now onwards and upwards for our season and up the league table 🚜🚜🚜 COYB
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cranky_old_tractor added 23:07 - Aug 31 Excellent news...COYB!
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:08 - Aug 31 Despite all of this we are still paying 9 fewer players to play for us than last season. Feels like we have more depth though. Amazing work by the club.
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ldnj added 23:09 - Aug 31 Well that's a lot of individuals that have come in (with a lot of bench warmers as well). Now it just needs to be a team.
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DavefromWatford added 23:24 - Aug 31 A pretty good guess Europablue but i think Carroll will be pushing Harper to play with Morsy. With the quality we will have on the bench it will be nice to sub like for like instead of weaker.
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istanblue added 23:54 - Aug 31 Signing a player who is in the prime of his career, has well over 100+ games in the Championship, is an international who has played at a World Cup and is a natural tough-tackling leader...sounds EXACTLY the type of midfield signing we needed. Well done to Ashton, Cook and the Americans for getting this over the line.
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