Town have confirmed the signing of former Manchester United central defender Axel Tuanzebe on a one-year deal with an option for a further season.

Yesterday, TWTD reported that the 25-year-old was continuing talks with the Blues having trained at Playford Road this week, despite claims he was in talks with Real Betis.

“It feels great to finally get the deal over the line,” Tuanzebe, who will wear the number 40 shirt, told TownTV. 

“I had conversations with the manager earlier in the summer, having worked with him previously, and it’s great to have a familiar face.

“Knowing the calibre of coach he is, it was a good decision to come here because I know the standards he has and how thorough he is. 

“The stadium, pitch and training ground are top notch and the group is humble, willing to work and everyone wants to take the club into a better position. I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started.”

Town boss Kieran McKenna added: “We’re really pleased to have Axel at the football club.

“He’s a defender with a lot of experience and pedigree at a young age and a lot of qualities as a player and as a person. He’s fast, strong in one-on-one situations, is a good communicator and carries the ball well. We think he will bring a lot to the team and to the club.  

“He has trained well with the group over the last week and will continue to do so. We want to build him up in a sensible way and get him back to his best condition. If we do that we feel we could have a very valuable asset for the team.   

“We have enjoyed working with him this week and he’s enjoyed being with us and being part of the environment, getting to know the culture and how we play.

“Now we’re looking forward to getting more work in on the training pitch and integrating him into the team.”

Former England U19, U20 and U21 international Tuanzebe, who was linked with the Blues throughout the transfer window, was previously training with Premier League new boys Luton Town but was unable to agree terms on a deal, despite reportedly impressing.

Congo DR-born Tuanzebe moved to the UK aged four, growing up in Rochdale, and came through the ranks at the Red Devils’ academy where he will first crossed paths with McKenna.

The 6ft 1in tall defender made his United debut in the FA Cup in January 2017 and went on to make 21 starts and 15 sub appearances for United without scoring, captaining the Red Devils in a Carabao Cup third round tie against hometown club Dale aged 21.

While at United, he had three spells on loan at Aston Villa - helping them to promotion from the Championship via the play-offs in 2018/19 - and further stints at Napoli, where he played only two games, and in the second half of last season Stoke City, making four starts and one sub appearance, having been hampered by injury.

In addition to the trial spell with Luton and links with the Blues, Tuanzebe was also mentioned in connection with moves to another of the newly-promoted Premier League clubs, Sheffield United, and Saudi Arabia during the summer.

Away from football, Tuanzebe holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest clearing of a Hungry Hungry Hippos board, a remarkable time of 17.36 seconds achieved during a Red Devils pre-season tour of the US in 2018.

Tuanzebe will fill the remaining space in Town's 25-man squad, which was published by the EFL yesterday.

Photo: ITFC

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 21:56 - Sep 8 Wow! Hail the K McK factor!
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WiltsBlue added 22:20 - Sep 8 Obviously KM knows what the player has and his ability especially having pworked with him before, this is an advantage KM has over other clubs because he’s already the knowledge and experience,first hand. Let’s be honest he’s done a pretty good job so far. A good shrewd deal too. Welcome to Ipswich Town Axel
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wibbletown added 22:20 - Sep 8 Real statement signing. Obviously question marks on his fitness, but he has been playing with and training with world class players and that can only help our squad. His song surely has to be 'I love you baby' by Frankie Valli, just like we used to have for Mateo Sereni. Great sing along song and fits his name perfectly, just not sure of the lyrics!
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ChorleyBoy added 22:29 - Sep 8 I have a positive feeling about this one. I think he'll score on his debut like Sergei Baltacha did 34 years ago.
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JewellintheTown added 23:34 - Sep 8 We've needed someone of his calibre for a long while to set the standard & teach the others. The rest of the team are no where near his level yet. He clearly did well while at United. Burns is the closest on 29.5 seconds so hopefully with Axels influence on Hungry Hippos the team will be averaging sub 25 in no time.
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joyousblue added 00:33 - Sep 9 Im really happy with this , not sure how mark thinks because we have an option for another year , so we could sell him doesnt make any sense great signing
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BeattiesBackPocket added 00:43 - Sep 9 Tractorboybig what a typically moronic comment. ‘If he was premier league quality he wouldn’t be here’ we don’t need prem quality what he does have though is premier league experience, champions league experience but more importantly for us championship experience at villa. Reason it didn’t work out at Man Utd was due to injuries. Try watching football or research just a little instead of coming off looking silly again pal.

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Len_Brennan added 08:18 - Sep 9 This is as good an outcome as we could have hoped for when we heard he was in talks with the club; the option we have for another year turns it from being a straight up risk, in a potentially lucrative piece of business. There is no doubting Axel's quality when fit; even if you doubt the substance of his game time in the Premier League, I remember him as part of that well funded Villa side than won promotion out of this league. He's only 25, which for a centre half means he still has a good 10 years at the top level in him ... if he can overcome his injury problems. He is a right sided player, which isn't what we were initially looking for - McKenna had a preference for a left footed cb - but he wouldn't be the first cb to play on the 'wrong' side, & a defender of his ability should be well able to slot in there & do a good job, even if the balance isn't quite right. He played alongside Mings at Villa. Like a fair few players in our squad now, he is also adaptable & has played right back & holding midfielder before, so again offers great cover. If his fitness comes right, he will be a massive player for us in this league & even if the vultures come at the of the season, the extension claus in the contract will turn us a tidy profit, justifying the risk as the probable top earner level of wages (£20k p/w?) that have been agreed.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:11 - Sep 9 Welcome to ITFC Axel,. .. rose to the trial, and are now a Blue , COYB
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OliveR16 added 09:18 - Sep 9 Welcome Axel. A nice post-transfer window surprise!
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Dissboyitfc added 09:50 - Sep 9 We have been crying out for a CB of his quality for years, last real quality CB we had was James Collins, sadly very injury prone and at the end of his career! before that there was Christophe Berra and in between those we had Carter-Vickers on loan from Spurs, who presumably McKenna would have known well from their time at Spurs, wonder if KM considered him in this window? Other notable CB's were Jason De Vos, John McGreal, Tony Mowbray, Mark Venus, Titus Bramble, Gareth McCauley, David Linighan etc and going further back we have some real legends but in recent times the quality in that position has been quite Lean. I haven't mentioned Luke Chambers because in my opinion a great pro a great person and an ok CB who was converted to RB and ruined! We really need this to be a quality signing, which I think it will be if he remains injury free! Welcome to Town Axel!

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oldelsworthyfan added 11:19 - Sep 9 A player of this calibre would usually come to us on loan. Well done ITFC!
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TimmyH added 11:23 - Sep 9 Needed another cb badly...still question marks though (like a few others), also noticed he's a bit injury prone with his loans at Villa and Stoke. Wish him all the best!
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Len_Brennan added 11:52 - Sep 9 I asked a work colleague, who is a big Villa fan, what he thinks of Tuanzebe; this was his reply: "I won't lie, I don't know what the Ipswich defence is like. But fit and in form he starts in most sides in the bottom half of the premier league for me."
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number8 added 12:45 - Sep 9 All transfers are risks but I guess this looks a bigger one so great idea for a year with an option of another year. If fit and injury free, I'm sure he'll be part of the back line. If so, I look forward to seeing it!!
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ArnieM added 14:51 - Sep 9 He appears to be able to play left it right CB, so either of the current CB’s are at real risk of losing their place. Axle has all the attributes needed and that you see in a quality CB. He has the lot, which unfortunately our current CB’s don’t possess everything. Once he’s in the team it’ll only be injury that brings him out. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play. Maybe find if our current CB’s might pick up some skills from him.

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pedrail added 15:33 - Sep 9 My Villa supporting friend told me "He was excellent in 2018-19 in helping us get promoted. Most Villa fans were disappointed we didn’t sign him for the Premier League when we went up."
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hyperbrit added 21:10 - Sep 10 He almost look like a sweeper to me...just wondering?
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hyperbrit added 21:16 - Sep 10 31231
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