Town have signed winger Marcus Harness from Portsmouth on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee with striker Joe Pigott moving in the opposite direction on loan for the season ahead.

TWTD reported on Monday that Pigott was close to joining Pompey on loan, while rumours that Harness could be involved in the deal surfaced earlier this evening.

Harness, 26, has joined the Blues on a three-year deal with the club having an option for a further season.

“It’s been a somewhat stressful day but I am so excited and happy to be here now,” Harness told iFollow Ipswich.

“This is an exciting project here and I think there are good things to come. I’m so pleased to be a part of it.

“I was sold instantly when I spoke to the manager. I love the way he wants to play and I think I can be a good fit here. I look forward to showing what I can do Wherever I play I will give my best and I think I can help the team.”

Town boss Kieran McKenna added: “Marcus is a good fit for the team and a good fit for the club.

“He has good experience in the league but is also coming into his prime and he wants to continue to improve and get himself to the next level.

“Marcus fits our style of play and is a strong player in a number of different positions and different roles. He is a versatile attacker who has been very effective in the league in terms of goals and assists. He can be a very good addition for us.”

Coventry-born Harness was a youth player with his hometown club but moved on to Burton Albion where he made his first senior appearance in September 2013.

While with the Brewers, for whom he made 31 starts and 52 sub appearances, Harness spent time on loan at Ilkeston, Aldershot and Port Vale.

Also capable of playing at wing-back, right-sided Harness, Town's fifth signing of the summer, qualifies to play international football for the Republic of Ireland.

On Monday, TWTD reported that Pigott's move to Portsmouth, understood to be a loan with an option to buy, was well down the line and set to go through in the next few days.

The 28-year-old joined Town on a free transfer last summer after leaving AFC Wimbledon but made little impact with the Blues and it had been expected that the Maidstone-born frontman would move on before the start of the new season despite having two years left on his contract.

Town have already added Freddie Ladapo to their squad during the close season with a bid for Leicester’s former Portsmouth loanee frontman George Hirst understood to have been turned down.

Pigott scored three times in 14 starts and 15 sub appearances in all competitions during 2021/22.

Regarding his new signing, Pompey boss Danny Cowley told his club's official site: “We’ve got a player who is really hungry — he loves football and was starved of that a bit last season.

“Joe will bring some real intelligence and good link play, while he obviously carries a threat in the final third.

“So he’s highly motivated and was eager to come to Pompey, where he’s previously scored a few goals.

“Joe previously went back into non-league football with Maidstone, where he had a great record to earn his move to AFC Wimbledon.

“[First-team assistant coach] Simon Bassey worked with him there and they have a good relationship. He’s a boy we know really well.

“Joe will bring some real intelligence and good link play, while he obviously carries a threat in the final third.

“He's an excellent finisher with both feet and scores all kinds of goals, making clever runs behind defenders.

“We’re pleased to have Joe and I think we’ve signed him at exactly the right time. We’re really looking forward to working with him.”

Photo: ITFC

SpiritOfJohn added 07:32 - Jul 16 Welcome to Ipswich Marcus. A winger who had a very similar record (11 goals 6 assists) to Wes Burns (12 goals 6 assists) last season, but unlike Burns he picked up no player of the season awards at Pompey. Strange that both of these wingers scored more goals than they created. Here is what Cowley said about Marcus in May 2022 when he was expecting him to be sold to a Championship club: "He is a top player at this level, there's no doubt he has Championship quality with his athleticism and his pace, his ability to go both ways and he has really helped the team with his assists, like his assist for Ronan [Curtis] on Saturday and I think he has played consistently well throughout the season."

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ArnieM added 07:32 - Jul 16 Welcome to the club. It's a thought provoking move really, because I know like most on here Piggott didn't cover himself in glory last season. But it was a difficult time for him personally, and he had trouble settling. Was one season really enough to judge him? Prior to joining us he was scoring goals for fun (more than his replacement), in a poor team, so I'm in two minds as to whether this is a good move allowing him to go to a promotion rival in this division.

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Linkboy13 added 07:37 - Jul 16 Another player that fits McKenna's strategy of a more physical approach got good technical ability too. Im a big fan of Celina luv watching his style of play but is he value for money over the season. He's was apparently on very good money at Ipswich and this sometimes has a negative effect on the other players.
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grinch added 07:42 - Jul 16 Another good signing and alliwed Piggott to move in so great business but still need that 20+ Striker if we don't we won't be in the top 6 I think it is that simple
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Len_Brennan added 08:08 - Jul 16 A good footballer at League 1 level & should be able to step up to the Championship if/when we get promoted. He has an eye for goal, is not afraid to take a shot & is a decent finisher; all of which we were lacking in the team as a whole last season. Plays generally on the right though, so will he be used in tandem with Burns, the one player who did display those qualities on a regular basis for us last season. Is KMcK considering switching to a 4-2-3-1 or even a variant of 4-4-2 as our main formation in order to accommodate both in the starting XI? I can't see them both play in our favoured 3-4-2-1. Also where does this leave Edwards & KVY in terms of a starting place? I know all 3 can play on both flanks, so maybe MMcK is looking to have a very adaptable squad this season, so he can switch around quickly during games when it just isn't happening for us. Maybe Edwards will be moving on? For all his ability, tricks, and work to be fair, he is not a good finisher. KMcK knows he has to address the lack of goals from outside of Burns & Chaplin this season; Harness is a big, strong & mobile presence who will provide a much higher conversion rate.

1

inghamspur added 08:17 - Jul 16 Decent bit of business that. Unfortunate for Piggott that Bonne started last season well and he just wasn't getting a look in, lost confidence & lack of game time clear when he was called upon. Sealing a deal for Hirst would be the cherry on the top as doubt whether Jackson will be up to it again this season (he needs to understand the offside rule!!).
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Dog added 09:08 - Jul 16 We might lose burns for a month if he gets im the welsh world cup squad. Good signing.
3

planetblue_2011 added 09:15 - Jul 16 What a signing a brilliant player always a threat when we play Pompey. Great bit of business by McKenna, really happy by this signing welcome aboard Marcus👍⚽️ Celina next in and we will be well away😁
2

Razor added 09:24 - Jul 16 I can srr exactly why we have got this guy but he is not the tweny plus goals striker I think we desperately need.
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Europablue added 09:51 - Jul 16 grinch I really don't think we need a 20-goal striker. I think we will be fine with four of five players scoring 10 goals each. I was also not surprised to see Piggot struggle compared to when he was at Wimbledon because he was the main man there and the team fit his strengths. Paul Cook just seemed to bring in the best players he could without having a strong sense of how they would work together as a team.

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ringwoodblue added 09:55 - Jul 16 A very good bit of business I'd say. I've always been impressed by Harness when I've seen him on TV. I hope Joe gets his confidence back and returns a better player. The only downside is that Pompey may now be in a better position to snatch Hirst from under our nose and like others on here, I think we still need an out and out striker
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Mariner1974 added 10:37 - Jul 16 Blue1 - I was joking about them being desperate to get Piggott. I doubt any team would be desperate to get a player who had a rocky season like he did last year. Was just curious as to why they'd let a player like Harness go. Is it wages? Don't have the insight on the history there myself. Also don't get why you'd rather have Harness over Celina? Bersant is a game changer and offers something different when a match is tight and a team is putting 11 behind the ball. Don't get the case about him not showing up, and lack of consistency. Not every player is a Morsy or a Burns. When you're a flair player it doesn't always mean you're the hardest grafter in the team. Why did Kyle Edwards not play more? It's because he needed more of the reliable work rate to add to his obvious flair (and a bit of how we played positionally as he's more of a winger than wing-back), but I'd argue that Celina was trusted by McKenna. He did show enough application alongside his obvious skill set. Celina is surely more about money. From his showing last year, I'm sure the club and manager heavily value him.

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gosblue added 10:51 - Jul 16 One thing we've all learned is that our incoming deals are all under the radar. So, if there is a lot of noise about a potential signing, chances are it's not going to happen. I love the way this club does business these days with patience and dignity. Welcome Marcus, I'm excited to see what you can bring to the party.
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Dissboyitfc added 11:28 - Jul 16 Check out Piggot's goal scoring record prior to Wimbledon, generally poor at a lower standard, great business! Welcome Marcus!
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 12:16 - Jul 16 So another wide man with flowing locks. Can we do something with this?… 🎵The Long haired wingers of Ipswich Town🎵 Surely?
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blueboy1981 added 12:21 - Jul 16 Pigott back amongst the Goals again next season then - played to his strengths. Just watch him !
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runningout added 12:26 - Jul 16 probably but hey ho
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