Town have confirmed the signing of forward Sammie Szmodics from Blackburn Rovers, as per TWTD’s report last night.

A month ago, TWTD was first to reveal that Town were in discussions with the Lancastrians regarding the addition of Szmodics, Rovers having turned down an initial offer of £6 million.

Since then, a number of other bids have been turned down but we understand the Blues upped their offer, believed to be £9 million plus add-ons, earlier this week with an agreement finally reached yesterday.

The 28-year-old, who has signed a four-year deal and will wear the number 23 shirt, is delighted the move is finally over the line and have an opportunity to play top-flight football.

He will be available to be in the squad for tomorrow’s opener against Liverpool, the paperwork having been completed before the midday deadline.

“There’s always been interest since I was a kid, but it just felt right this time with the challenge of the Premier League,” he told the club site.

“After speaking to a couple of the lads, including Lewis Travis who was here last season, they just pushed me and said that I need to come and work under this manager, which is something I can’t wait to do. 

“It’s every boy’s dream to play in the Premier League and I’ve always said to my friends, family and agents that I’ll get to the top one day.  

“There’s nothing more I want than to score at Portman Road for Ipswich Town. I am over the moon to be here and looking forward to the season ahead.”

Town boss Kieran McKenna added: “We think Sam brings a lot of different qualities to the squad and is an experienced player who has worked extremely hard over the years to improve his game and to become more and more effective as a player. 

“That was shown last year with the fantastic season he had at Blackburn with the goals he scored throughout the campaign, including one at Portman Road of course. 

“He has a real feel for scoring goals and works so hard for the team both on and off the ball. He knows many of the players here, as well as some of the staff and has ties to the club and to the area. 

“This is a move that works for all parties and he has rightfully earned the chance to play in the Premier League, which I know he is delighted to do at this club. 

“His arrival gives us another really versatile forward player who can operate in different roles and systems, giving us a big goal threat and plenty of other qualities to add to the team.” 

Born in Colchester, Szmodics, a player we understand the Blues have eyed in the last couple of transfer windows, came through the youth ranks with the U’s before breaking into their first team in 2013 prior to a spell on loan in non-league with Braintree.

A move to Bristol City, where Blues CEO Mark Ashton was then in charge, followed in 2019, prior to a switch to Peterborough, initially on loan, before he joined Blackburn in August 2022. Posh are understood to be due a 10 per cent of profit sell-on from the move.

Last season, the forward was top scorer in the Championship with 27 goals, leading to his first international call-ups. He has now won four full caps.

Despite training way from the first-team squad and missing pre-season friendlies while his move was under discussion, Szmodics has made an impressive start to the season, coming off the bench to score in the 4-2 opening-day win against Derby and then scoring twice in the 6-1 Carabao Cup tie victory at Stockport and playing just over the first hour.

Town are also expected to announce the signing of Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan today, while Napoli’s Jens Cajuste is set for a medical having agreed to join, also on loan.

Photo: ITFC/Matchday Images

cmarkchips added 13:04 - Aug 16 Prediction- he will score the goals to keep us up. In the nicest possible way- he is exactly the type of nasty forward we need to ruffle feathers at this level. It was mentioned earlier this week he has the traits of Craig Bellamy- defenders hate playing against this type of player.
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FarnboroBlue added 13:06 - Aug 16 "After speaking to a couple of the lads, including Lewis Travis who was here last season, they just pushed me and said that I need to come and work under this manager, which is something I can’t wait to do." - Bet Eustace will love this :)
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Marinersnose added 13:10 - Aug 16 Excellent signing and I for one am very pleased that we remained patient but determined in our pursuit of Sam. He ticks so many boxes but above all he scores goals. Fantastic addition
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:10 - Aug 16 Great news for us ,a reprieve for the Carrot road shower
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Broadbent23 added 13:12 - Aug 16 A 20 minute substitution on Saturday with a winner will do nicely. I think Ed's share payment helped get the deal done. We have to pay for some of KP's wages so our finances are getting stretched. But we now have a squad capable of surviving.
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backwaywhen added 13:15 - Aug 16 Welcome to Town young man , the one signing I wanted us to make , thought it was going the way of Philogene so we’ll chuffed …..we have given ourselves a real chance now .
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HatStand added 13:15 - Aug 16 Back of the net
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Lightningboy added 13:15 - Aug 16 Number 23?...thought he was a shoe-in for the number 8 or 9?....
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Cavendish_Blue added 13:15 - Aug 16 Phew I know we'd have all preferred him in for pre season. Sometimes perseverance pays and as my Blackburn buddy would no doubt say......you have a gem!!!!
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Tractorog added 13:17 - Aug 16 Oh my word what a day to be a Town fan!
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Mariner1974 added 13:17 - Aug 16 Very very happy with this signing. We've dodged a bullet I think with Broja, and never been 100% about whether the Greek lad would adjust to the UK right away. It's a real shame we can't start the season with Hirst up front and the likes of Omari, Szmodics, Chappers buzzing behind him, but looking forward to seeng Delap do the honours, and we'll get goals from all those attacking midfielders. The fact that now my fantasy football brain doesn't know who's best to plump for between Omari, Chappers and Szmodics as well as Leif (of course), shows we have plenty of potential goals upcoming this season. We might crash and burn like predictions would tell us in the Prem, but Ashton/ McKenna have certainly lined up some wily hungry guys to give it a ruddy good go. The dressing room should remain a fun place to be with characters we're bringing to the Portman Party.

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bluesteal74 added 13:20 - Aug 16 Buzzing what a day this going to be COYB
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LimerickTractorBoy added 13:32 - Aug 16 Does this mean we lose Camsrover? A little added bonus.
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runningout added 13:34 - Aug 16 think some peeps should read twtd notes before posting questions that are answered beforehand
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Jcb2007 added 13:42 - Aug 16 1 - 0 Szmodics, and it will go down in history alongside the iconic finish at Anfield by the legend Marcus Stewart. I wonder what odds I can get on that.
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blueboy1981 added 13:43 - Aug 16 WELCOME SAMMY - you’re where you belong now - PORTMAN ROAD . ⚽️
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TimmyH added 13:46 - Aug 16 Hurrah!...will be a little pest for the opposition. Welcome aboard the good ship Ipswich Sammie.
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Orraman added 13:47 - Aug 16 Who would have thought at the start of the season 2 years ago that we would be signing players of the calibre of Kalvin Phillips. Kieran just the man to get his career back on track. With the addition of Sammie Szmodics and Cajuste we now have a squad which in my optimistic opinion will keep us in Premier League. It’s certainly going to be very competitive to keep the starting position in every department of the team but Kieran is just the man to pick the team to combat the different types of opposition whilst keeping everyone happy and we now have good cover for injuries and inevitable suspensions.

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blueboy1981 added 13:47 - Aug 16 Well Done Ashton and McKenna - SAMMY on a 4 year Contract equals Good Business !!
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ArnieM added 13:58 - Aug 16 I'm still lying down !
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Karlosfandangal added 13:58 - Aug 16 Not another story about Szmodics………oh wait I like this story excellent signing and Phillips slipping those inch perfect passes for him to run on to
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Normandyblue added 14:21 - Aug 16 Does this mean the end of Cambsrover who has been hanging around our beloved twtd like an old curry fart?
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Razor added 14:32 - Aug 16 Fantastic work by Mr Ashton who did not walk away like lots of previous posters would have.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 14:37 - Aug 16 Finally! I just know I'm gonna love Sammie, he has that edginess on the pitch that says he ain't gonna take no sh1t, and boy does he know where the goal is. Got my Szmodics shirt ordered already. Welcome Sammie!
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Bugledog added 14:58 - Aug 16 Fantastic - really hope he will bang them in at this level. COYB!
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