Town have confirmed the signing of keeper Cieran Slicker from Manchester City on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

TWTD revealed last night that the 20-year-old was close to completing a move to the Blues from the Premier League and European champions.

The Scotland U21 international was at last night’s 2-1 friendly victory over Maidenhead United at Needham Market’s Bloomfields.

“I’m buzzing to be here because this is a great opportunity for me at an amazing club,” Slicker, who will have worked with Town legend and City keeper-coach Richard Wright at the Etihad Stadium, told the club site.

“Saying goodbye to City is tough, because I have been there for 13 years, but this is definitely the right time for me.

“I have been speaking to Reg [Rene Gilmartin, Town’s head of goalkeeping] and I can’t wait to get started with him.

“He’s worked with goalkeepers I’ve played with previously and everyone has spoken very highly of him.

“The way Ipswich play was a big part of the reason I chose to come here, because it suits my style.

“Everyone I know who played in League One last season said Ipswich were the best team by a mile, so hearing that was great for me. In some ways it’s similar to the way City play so that is really big for me.

“Working with Ederson, Scott [Carson] and Zak [Steffen] at City has been a brilliant experience for me and working with Christian [Walton] is going to be the same.

“He was the best goalkeeper in the league last season and I want to learn as much as I can from him because he sets the standards I want to reach.”

Gilmartin added: “Cieran is a highly regarded and highly recommended goalkeeper who we have had a very good look at and heard great things about.

“He’s the kind of high-level goalkeeper we are looking to bring to the club and we’re delighted to have him.

“We have a very strong goalkeeping department now and we want players who are developing at the club and have a realistic chance to be the first choice in the future.

“We’re thrilled with how Christian did last season, and Vas [Vaclav Hladky] had a great season himself, but to have someone like Cieran coming in will only help keep the levels really high.

“He comes from a big club in Manchester City and has been on the bench for them before while also featuring in their Champions League squads, so he’s been around the senior game for a while.

“We’re really looking forward to working with him and it’s great the deal was done before we head away to our camp in Austria. Being involved in that will really help him embed himself into the group.”

Slicker, who will be familiar to Town’s U18s coach and former keeper Callum Tongue from his time coaching at City’s academy, had a spell on loan at Rochdale last season but was recalled in January having made three cup appearances.

Capped by Scotland at U17, U18 and U21 levels, Slicker has also featured for City’s U21s in the Papa Johns Trophy.

As he is aged under 21, Slicker won't count towards the 25-man EFL squad, seems likely to be Town's number three keeper with Nick Hayes, 24, likely to be sent out on loan to gain first-team experience.

Photo: ITFC

Len_Brennan added 18:13 - Jul 8 No mention of working with Vaclav - "working with Christian [Walton] is going to be the same." - so I guess Hdladky is on the way.
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GTRKing added 18:20 - Jul 8 Great 3rd choice keeper happy days Let's see how he turns out under 21 so won't take a squad registration place up 😀 Now we need a striker but let's wait to see who we get
4

RegencyBlue added 18:35 - Jul 8 One for the future I guess. Three year deal implies he will be a bit of a project.
2

Stu_boy added 18:40 - Jul 8 If walton was the best keeper in league 1 and trafford is valued at 19 mil makes you wonder how much walton must be worth then!!!
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SlippinJimmyJuan added 18:41 - Jul 8 That picture with Joe Hart makes me feel incredibly old. Nonetheless, welcome Cieran!
2

Miaow added 18:45 - Jul 8 Bravo on that headline!
3

HungryLikeTheWoolf added 18:47 - Jul 8 Love the headline!!
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Nomore4 added 18:54 - Jul 8 Stu boy Walton isn't a young keeper. Trafford and our new keeper hopefully go on to be amongst the worlds best….hence the high value. This signing could be huge and someone to push Walton. A Man City keeper education, so assume can easily play on field also.
2

Nomore4 added 19:30 - Jul 8 Fact is this is a player who's featured in a Pep match day squad on a number of occasions including the Champions league. Wouldn't have come cheap. And more importantly isn't here to be 2nd choice let alone 3rd.
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Tractor_Boy_Tommy added 19:49 - Jul 8 Underwhelming
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Europablue added 19:50 - Jul 8 Is there a reason why don't seem to be doing the 3 year plus the option of an extra season deals we used to? Undisclosed fee is really annoying. Clubs should be forced to share that information.
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Help added 19:50 - Jul 8 Vaclav will see put his last year. Hayes goes out on loan to get experience and two young keepers to push we Walton next year
1

davetheblue added 20:12 - Jul 8 Clearly a clever move by town ,having only to pick 2 keepers for squad of 25 now Freeing up space for another outfield player.
6

LegendofthePhoenix added 21:00 - Jul 8 Love the headline Phil / Have. One of your best ever😄
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LegendofthePhoenix added 21:01 - Jul 8 Gav
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Ipswich1977 added 21:07 - Jul 8 Keepers don't count towards the 25 man squad places.
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davetheblue added 21:16 - Jul 8 Ipswich 1977.I think they do count as it says in article above. Because his under 21 he won't.
3

Ipswichbusiness added 21:47 - Jul 8 Has he signed from Man City to be third choice at Ipswich? I doubt it.
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HARRY10 added 22:00 - Jul 8 The reality is that we haven't produced a first choice keeper since the days of Price/Supple - 18 years ago. What have our goalkeeping coaches been doing ?
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Nobbysnuts added 08:36 - Jul 9 Not really where we need to strengthen as a priority....getting a bit worried now as the season is approaching fast....this is going to be a tough season just to survive....I desperately hope there is a striker coming....
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Naylorsrightboot added 09:52 - Jul 9 We really could do with some outfield players. Namely a couple of strikers or we are going to be in a muddle. This is a tough tough league.
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shadoof1016 added 10:40 - Jul 9 Love this signing, young well coached U21 international forming the type of squad McK requires. Clever business
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gosblue added 10:55 - Jul 9 Goalkeepers count towards the 25 in the championship but not in leagues 1 & 2 . However U21s don't count in the EFL but in the championship they do if they are on loan. That's probably why we've bought a young keeper instead of getting one on loan.
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Beattiesballbag added 11:23 - Jul 9 It seems some people have forgotten Ashtons comments that we are building for the future in the top flight as well as worrying about the present & these signings do not detract from our immediate requirements.
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joyousblue added 14:48 - Jul 9 Naylorsrightboot, dont you think mckenna is aware of what we need , it has to be better than what we have got , otherwise its just numbers , i temember the moans for a 20 goal a season man , turned out we already had two atthe club , patience man
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