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

BlueArrow added 20:07 - Jan 8 Welcome to The Towen young man
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blueboy1981 added 20:08 - Jan 8 blues1 - anyone suggesting Ladapo should be dropped, sadly doesn't understand Football - although think they do. With Hirst and another signing hopefully, all options / permutations look extremely promising. !
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jas0999 added 20:14 - Jan 8 Good signing
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suffolkblueeye added 20:17 - Jan 8 Sign him permanently, brilliant
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bluelad7 added 20:24 - Jan 8 Plymouth will be having sleepless nights.
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Suffolkboy added 20:25 - Jan 8 So SO good ; hope this news goes some way to convincing the almost permanent doubters that our smashing Management Team ( from M A down ) know exactly how to deal , how to plan and still further the Town's reputation for principled confidentiality in negotiations ! Great news , believe yourself extraordinarily welcome to a super Club going places and doing things the right way ! Enjoy Mr H ! COYB

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Stato added 20:29 - Jan 8 @bkues1 my bad I just assumed Hirst would get more game time but happy to be corrected @bkueboy1981 I certainly didn't say Ladapo should be dropped
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oldbri added 20:32 - Jan 8 Nice to finally see you in a Ipswich Town shirt. Welcome to Portman Road George.
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BurleysGloryDays added 20:38 - Jan 8 We need an animal: someone who unapologetically runs through people and runs through walls with single-mindedness to put the ball in the net. Set about it George!
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MagicMoe added 20:38 - Jan 8 17 goals from 40 international appearances at various age groups - possibly a man for the big occasion.
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pablo123 added 20:39 - Jan 8 Welcome george , imo you're exactly what we need right now !!! Well done all
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PSGBlue added 20:45 - Jan 8 Considering George Hirst is pictured in an Ipswich top in front of all the shirts ready for use. All of which played yesterday, I would suspect this deal had been done before kick off. A fact backed up by George being seen sat in the stands. I KM knows a bit more than he lets on! Not that I am complaining!
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Pettabelieveit added 20:46 - Jan 8 Love how many of his goals for Pompey were in and around the 6 yard box! Because we all know how many chances like that he'll be getting!
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warktheline added 20:47 - Jan 8 Here we go!
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gosblue added 20:48 - Jan 8 I think this takes pressure off Ladapo; He can't do it all and they should push each other. It also gives us another option from the bench instead of pushing the likes of Burgess up top when we are chasing a late winner or equaliser. We need to be patient with Hirst, Ladapo took a while to get going and now there's no stopping him. COYB
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Sospiri added 20:56 - Jan 8 I like that he is strong with his head as well as fast and skilful with his feet. We need that aerial threat.
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chepstowblue added 21:05 - Jan 8 It doesn't matter if he's 6ft 3 or 4ft 10, there won't be anything aerial for him to challenge for unless we play him at centre half. If his right and left feet are attached to the appropriate legs then he's in with a shout. Ousting Ladapo(who for all the flak he takes has an impressive scoring record), won't be easy, nor should it be. This fella has to prove himself. As for Broadhead being a number 10.... If he is then he's a mile behind Chaplin,Aluko, Harness,Edwards in the pecking order. I'm happy enough with one, no way do we need them both.

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Carberry added 21:10 - Jan 8 His Dad had a habit of hitting 25 yard screamers, one or two of those would be handy.
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Tractorboy58 added 21:19 - Jan 8 Broadhead a done deal as well
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Crinkle59 added 21:19 - Jan 8 looks like a handy in the box scorer just what we needp[ welcome to PR!
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Crinkle59 added 21:21 - Jan 8 Look like a handy in the box scoer just to finish us off. Welcome to PR
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dangerous30 added 21:37 - Jan 8 Welcome george good signing to help out the team :)
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Europablue added 21:39 - Jan 8 Since JJ got injured the attacking depth has not looked good enough. We have not looked like we could bring on the same quality as we could at the start of the season. I always felt that if plan A wasn't going to plan that we could make a couple of attacking subs and change the game. Well done Ashton and co.
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Europablue added 21:43 - Jan 8 Suffolkboy I don't know about everyone else, but I think some of us could see how this season could slip away from us if we didn't bring in a few players. Ashton was always aware of this danger and it was always the plan to do whatever he could to avoid thinking what if?
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bluesteal74 added 00:25 - Jan 9 Buzzing about this signing hopefully we will have a couple more through the door to help for the push. COYB 🚜💙🚜
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