Town have confirmed the signing of Leicester striker George Hirst on loan for the rest of the season.

TWTD revealed o Saturday that long-time target Hirst was watching the game against Rotherham United as discussions continued regarding his switch.

The frontman spent the first half of the season on loan at Blackburn Rovers but that move has been cut short.

“I found out about the interest and just wanted to get it done,” Hirst, who will wear the number 27 shirt, told iFollow Ipswich. “Now that it is, I’m delighted to be here.

“I have heard great things about the manager as well and I couldn’t wait to get here and have a chance to work with him myself. I have had good and honest conversations with him.

“I’m here to help and I want to be involved in a promotion push. The team has done well so far this season and I want to keep that going and give us a little bit of a push.

“It’s going to be great when I get out on the Portman Road pitch and hopefully I can be part of a team that the supporters can be proud of as I know they always turn up in their numbers.”

In May last year, TWTD was first to report that striker Hirst was being targeted by the Blues with discussions regarding a permanent switch continuing for much of the summer.

However, the 23-year-old ultimately signed a new three-year contract with the Foxes and was sent out on loan to Championship Rovers in a season-long loan deal which included an option to buy.

But Hirst had a frustrating time at Ewood Park, making only three starts and eight sub appearances without scoring.

Former England U17s, U18s and U19s international Hirst spent 2021/22 on loan at Portsmouth, scoring 15 goals in 32 starts and 14 sub appearances, all from November onwards.

Hirst, the son of former Sheffield Wednesday and England frontman David, started his career with the Owls before joining Belgian second division side OH Leuven in June 2018, then a year later moved on to Leicester.

Since signing for the Foxes the 6ft 3in tall frontman, who played alongside Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes, Tristan Nydam and Nick Hayes with the Young Lions, has made only two sub appearances, spending time on loan at yesterday’s opponents Rotherham in 2020/21, failing to score in four starts and 28 appearances from the bench, before last season’s spell at Pompey.

Hirst is Town's second signing of the January window following the addition of midfielder Massimo Luongo last Thursday.

Photos: ITFC

Help added 19:30 - Jan 8 Yes
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Help added 19:30 - Jan 8 Get in now for broadhead
11

HopefulBlue69 added 19:33 - Jan 8 Welcome to the town....
9

ruds added 19:36 - Jan 8 Sexy Saturday's incoming!!!!!!!! COYB
3

slaughteredskipper added 19:38 - Jan 8 Number 27 - would that be coincidence that he has the same shirt as another iconic January signing in Marcus Stewart? Or am I remembering stuff wrong?
7

ArnieM added 19:40 - Jan 8 That'll do nicely 👍
5

Positive_Vibes added 19:40 - Jan 8 Excellent news!! Really pleased with this one. Let's hope he can reach the form he did last season with Pompey.
5

bringonbrazil added 19:41 - Jan 8 Great news. Need another proper striker. That will give us 4 goalscorers.
5

Stato added 19:42 - Jan 8 We thinking Broadhead or Hirst as first choice number 9 ? Or is Broadhead going to play 10 ?
2

chopra777 added 19:43 - Jan 8 Brilliant news. A proven goal scorer in League one and decent competition for Lapedo. Look out all our opponents for the rest of the season. Plus he is not cup tied. Now go go shopping for more additions.
5

blueboy1981 added 19:43 - Jan 8 Great potential has Hirst - lets hope he can achieve and realise that with us by the end of the season. A Great Opportunity for him to do so. Welcome to Portman Road George.
7

Bazza8564 added 19:45 - Jan 8 Mark Ashton delivers again, and with Blackburns loan having had an option to purchase, get promoted and make it permanent please Broadhead will be done tomorrow so i'm still firmly convinced Whittaker will be done once the Plymouth game is over
7

CaptainAhab added 19:46 - Jan 8 Any option to buy? Would be great to keep him if he does well for us
6

Mark added 19:46 - Jan 8 Good news. Does our loan deal include an option to buy at a set price? That would be good to know as if he is a big hit his price will go up!
4

LegendofthePhoenix added 19:48 - Jan 8 Welcome to ITFC George, a club that is now brilliantly run and managed, and we are going places. First stop, the Championship. Hope you can put everything you've got into training and then show us what you've got on the pitch, as competition for a starting place is gonna be fierce.
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Stato added 19:50 - Jan 8 Ladapo didn't handle it well when Rotherham dropped him. Let's hope KM can keep him fired up
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pennblue added 19:54 - Jan 8 Great to have you here George, we have been waiting quite a few months for you to arrive!
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runaround added 19:56 - Jan 8 Welcome to Ipswich Town George
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buzbyblue added 19:56 - Jan 8 Do we have an option to buy Phil?
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:01 - Jan 8 This is just what we need.
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blues1 added 20:01 - Jan 8 Boss man. You somehow seem convinced that ladapo will be dropped? I've got news for you. He wont be. All that will happen, is mckenna will rotate the strikers, as he has pretty much done so all season so far.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:02 - Jan 8 Given his experiences at Blackburn , with little game time, I assume he will be getting a lot of minutes.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 20:04 - Jan 8 Excellent news welcome to the club. That's one more piece of the jigsaw and gives us a plan B in games with his height plus helps in defence as well
5

itfchorry added 20:06 - Jan 8 Top Work - 🚜💙
3

ArnieM added 20:06 - Jan 8 I remember watching his dad play. He was a bloody good striker and always stuck a few past us. So if he's half as good as his dad was, I'll be well happy 👍
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