Town are reported to have agreed an €11.5 million fee for Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa with the Blues close to making the Dutchman their first outfield signing of the summer.

Earlier, reports in France indicated that Matusiwa had been pulled out of the squad playing a friendly with Saint-Brieuc this morning as negotiations with the Blues were advanced.

According to L’Equipe, a fee of €11.5 million (£9.9 million) plus add-ons has been agreed between the clubs.

Rennes manager Habib Beye, who previously had told the Hilversum-born schemer he was unable to guarantee him playing time, confirmed after his side's friendly that “Matusiwa is on his way out”.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder joined Rennes from Reims in January 2024 for €16 million (£13.8 million) having started his career at Ajax, after joining the Amsterdam club as a schoolboy from Almere City, before spells with De Graafschap (loan) and Groningen prior to moving to France and Reims in 2021.

Matusiwa, who is contracted to his current club until 2028, played international football for the Netherlands at U16 and U21 levels but also qualifies for play for Angola.

The 5ft 8in tall midfielder is the second France-based player reported to be closing in on a move to the Blues over the last 24 hours with Reims defender Cédric Kipré having been reported to be nearing a loan move to Town yesterday.

Photo: Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Monkey_Blue added 15:32 - Jul 10 If Kieran likes him I’m sold as I suspect him and the people at the club know way more about him and also about who is and isn’t going to benefit the team than me. If it were Paul Cook assessing a player I’d be worried and not be so quick to assume he knew better.
1

Linkboy13 added 15:32 - Jul 10 Don't know anything about him but he has played at a good level with the potential to possibly play in the Premier league and considering the fees we payed for championship players last season it's a good deal.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 15:32 - Jul 10 Typical BlueBullet negativity.
2

BobbyBell added 15:37 - Jul 10 Blubullet29 you say no comment so why comment to say no comment? Then you make a comment (because you just can't help it) saying absolutely nothing yourself and criticising other people's input. You need to get a life. I'd rather we all trust the judgement of KM and his recruitment team who will know all about him than make senseless idiotic comments.
2

BobbyPetta11 added 15:38 - Jul 10 Not the best highlight reel.
2

kuyski added 15:39 - Jul 10 blues1 -2 more forwards means more attacking option ,so why not？hirst and Szmodics have injury record before，so we need more insurance for that！close to signing just mean still not yet done also，everything can change fast unless officially announced！
1

gkroon89 added 15:39 - Jul 10 Looks like a forward passing midfielder who can spray the ball about. We have not had this sort of player for a while and our squad has being crying out for one.
1

bluebullet29l added 15:45 - Jul 10 @bobbybell...don't cry mate....
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JewellintheTown added 15:56 - Jul 10 Someone's already pulled the trigger and updated Wikipedia to show him as an Ipswich player.
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blues1 added 16:02 - Jul 10 Kuyski Not saying I wouldn't take a 2nd one . Justcthstcwexonly actually need one right now. But yer, maybe a different type of striker rather than another out and out cf
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oioihardy added 16:03 - Jul 10 10 mil in championship on a player is mental .. im happy about this . Just was there ever a time we signed anyone for 10 mil in the championship. This is the new ipswich town , love the backing we get to buy players. Exciting times
2

oioihardy added 16:03 - Jul 10 10 mil in championship on a player is mental .. im happy about this . Just was there ever a time we signed anyone for 10 mil in the championship. This is the new ipswich town , love the backing we get to buy players. Exciting times
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blues1 added 16:05 - Jul 10 Lion. Oh, forgot also Kante, who was only 5ft6, but wasxalso physical. I do think some taller players wouldn't go amiss, but that doesnt necessarily mean they're more physical.
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RobITFC added 16:10 - Jul 10 Do who has changed wikipedia page already ?
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Dissboyitfc added 16:25 - Jul 10 Actually oldfart71 the last really good Dutch midfielder we signed was Romeo Zondervan, loved Romeo!
3

cardinaldom88 added 16:38 - Jul 10 I think it’s safe to say that this scouting and coaching staff will have done their due diligence on the player, whether we know much about him or not. What I love most about this club right now is the way they coach the players to be better, get more out of them. The likes of Clarke, Hutchinson, Philogene are still young and developing players so can expect more in the future. Adding a player like this, is a sound plan for me especially if we’re not getting Cajuste back.

1

carlisleaway added 16:43 - Jul 10 Is he coming over from France in a dinghy
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Blue_Heath added 17:15 - Jul 10 This is more like it, get him signed up Town!
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Lukeybluey added 17:18 - Jul 10 Don't know anything about him, but looks decent!
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Saxonblue74 added 17:26 - Jul 10 Good highlights reel. Defensive, good play maker and an instinctive passer of the ball. What’s not to like? Should be a good fit for our style.
2

tetchris added 18:13 - Jul 10 How times have changed! We can spend nearly £10m on a player whilst being in the championship.
1

Ebantiass added 18:33 - Jul 10 Like most I've never heard of him ,but its a position that we need and Im more than willing to give him a chance.
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Dizzyhat added 18:34 - Jul 10 Have we had any Dutch midfielders since Martijn Reuser?
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armchaircritic59 added 18:45 - Jul 10 A poster above stated he knows " naff all about him ". which applied to me way back, when a certain two Dutchmen appeared at Portman Road. They and we didn't do too badly! We have a record with Dutch midfielders, if this guy is even anything near as good as Romeo Zondervan and Martjin Rueser, he'll do just fine. I wouldn't expect him to be anything near the class of the first two I referred to. Let's see if it all goes through first.

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ipswichboi added 18:48 - Jul 10 I'm keen
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