Town have agreed a fee of £20 million plus add-ons with Aston Villa for forward Jaden Philogene, who is set to undergo a medical and complete the formalities regarding his permanent move to the Blues on Thursday.

The 22-year-old has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Town and will become the club’s second signing of the January transfer window.

Philogene has long been a Town target with links first surfacing in the summer of 2023 before the England U21 international moved from Aston Villa to Hull City.

In July last year, the Blues had agreed a joint-deal with the Tigers for the forward and teammate Jacob Greaves with the Philogene side of the proposed move understood to be worth £18 million and the player having agreed personal terms at Portman Road.

However, his former club Villa had 72 hours within which to exercise matching rights as part of the deal they had agreed with the Tigers the previous summer, which they did and Philogene returned to Villa Park for £13 million - the Midlanders also taking advantage of their 30 per cent sell-on - with the forward signing a five-year contract.

But since then Philogene has made only three starts - two in the Premier League - and 11 sub appearances.

Town and Everton, another of the clubs interested in the summer, both made approaches at the start of this window with the Blues stealing a march on the Toffeemen.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Londoner agreed to sign following a personal phone call with manager Kieran McKenna.

Philogene, who primarily plays on the left side, will be at the club on Thursday morning to undergo a medical and complete his switch.

The initial fee of £20 million fee is just below the club record figure of £22 million paid to Chelsea for Omari Hutchinson in the summer.

The Blues are in the market for a number of forwards this window with a number nine a priority and two players for the roles behind on the list.

On Friday, Liverpool rebuffed a £16 million offer for Ben Doak, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough, with Crystal Palace also having made a bid.

We understand the Blues are maintaining their pursuit of the 19-year-old with the Eagles similarly continuing their interest with the Reds said to want a fee between £25 and £30 million.

Photo: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images via Reuters Connect

ArnieM added 08:44 - Jan 9 We finally get our man. Excellent.... Building a nice, younger hungry squad here arent we!
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Terrystowel added 09:08 - Jan 9 I was a bit lukewarm until I saw his YouTube highlights reel but both he and Godfrey look fantastic additions assuming their personalities fit. COYB.
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Cafe_Newman added 09:22 - Jan 9 Looking forward to finally seeing pictures of the fella smiling in future TWTD articles about him.
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mathiemagic added 09:37 - Jan 9 I seem to be in the clear minority on this one but I am not sure spending 20m on a player in January that is not match fit, wasnt up for a relegation battle back in the summer but now suddenly appears to be, is a good choice ? - A loan with the option to buy should we stay up and he has proved his worth would have been my choice if it was ever an option. I dont think he is streets ahead than what we have in those positions and from what I have seen of him in the past, if the team is winning then all is hunky dory but disappears otherwise. I hope I am wrong and fully expect some minus ticks on here considering most seem to disagree with me !!

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planetblue_2011 added 10:04 - Jan 9 I am very happy with this signing when it’s over the line but he will be our fourth left sided winger with Broadhead, Szmodics & Clarke even Omari can play there is needed. Will we get another striker? Or will he use Szmodics & Broadhead if he needs to? You have on the right side Burns, Omari, Johnson can play further forward & the injured Ogbene. McKenna likes his wingers or will we see 1 or 2 go out on loan or sold?…. We will see.

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Marinersnose added 10:12 - Jan 9 McKenna obviously likes this guy and his judgement has been sound on many of our additions. I pleased that we’re still pursuing Doak as he looks the real deal. I hope Broadhead isn’t on his way. There have been mumerings for a few months but he’s an important player imo
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Linkboy13 added 10:15 - Jan 9 Listening to Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor on Talk Sport this morning he said that Philogenes problem at Premier league level he couldn't beat a player . 20 million pounds is a lot of money for someone who has only done it at championship level and might not be up to the physical demands of the Premier league as Jack Clarke is finding out. But we have a great manager and motivator in Keiran McKenna so he might be able to work his magic.

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churchmans added 10:27 - Jan 9 Mathiemagic let me explain! Philogene was contracted to hull city! Stay with me Aston villa had a buy back clause(and they know we wanted him) What did you expect philogene to do? Cry act like a diva and say no i dont care about proffesionalism and legal binding contracts 'no i dont want to go to villa i want to to ipswich? Come on man
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:43 - Jan 9 Mc Kenna has stuck with it ,in McKenna i at least trust .
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Bert added 11:45 - Jan 9 Ample proof that our owners have invested in the club for the long term irrespective of where we finish this season. Those who suggested otherwise may wish to recalibrate their thoughts.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:03 - Jan 9 Ralphinho: I like the song! -:) Not sure the metre of the last line is quite right, so you might want to adjust slightly. Exciting signing. We really do seem to mean business!
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Leejames99 added 12:04 - Jan 9 Who says Philogene is not match fit, he was on bench vs Brighton on 30th Dec and wasn't in squad at weekend as Emey had said he could go so why would they risk injury. This deal was always being done it's just good business by Villa doubling their profit on a player they sold from their academy. He will thrive here, great signing. Think Broadhead and Szmodicks may be used as 10's or even try 2 up top now. Walton Godfrey O'Shea (c) Greaves Davis Cajuste Phillips Szmodicks Hutchinson Phillogene Delap Or Walton O'shea (c) Greaves Godfery (wb) Davis (wb) Cajuste Phillips Hutchinson Philogene Delap New striker Subs Muric Broadhead Morsy Johnson J Clarke J Taylor Szmodicks Townsend Burgess Hurst Tunazabe (starts when fit) Can only have 9 subs H Clarke Hamadi Burns Chaplin Woolfeden Luongo Sold/loaned All my opinion but that's a great 11 and awesome bench

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Dissboyitfc added 13:41 - Jan 9 Well linkboy I heard Gobby say that as well and I take everything he says with a pinch of salt! For a starters I have seen Omari not able or unwilling to take players on, I have also seen him terrify players when running with the ball. Jaden hasn’t played enough so therefore difficult to have a real opinion on him. I will wait and make my own opinion, won’t be listening to Gabby. Still very young and I would think very hungry! Do we know if Villa have put in another buy back clause?

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Linkboy13 added 15:03 - Jan 9 Value Gabby's opinion more than most on here at least he's played the game at the highest level.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:45 - Jan 10 But he also said that clubs have to sell because they haven't got the money, thats not correct clubs have got the money but have to sell because of PSR!
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itfc2024 added 10:38 - Jan 14 again the philogene saga goes on again why are we bothering with this bloke clearly loves to mess teams about
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