Town have completed the signing of Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa on a four-year deal.

The clubs are understood to have agreed a fee of €9 million (£7.8 million) for the Dutchman.

“I'm a person who likes to feel things and it felt immediately very good. In this moment I felt this is the club where I had to be,” Matusiwa told the club site.

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.

He had spells with De Graafschap (loan) and Groningen prior to moving to France and Reims in 2021.

Matusiwa played international football for the Netherlands at U16 and U21 levels but also qualifies for Angola, for whom his brother Diangi, who is now retired, won one cap.

The 5ft 8in tall midfielder is the second player the Blues have signed from French football today, Cédric Kipré’s season-long loan from Reims having been confirmed this afternoon.

In total, Town have now brought in three players with veteran keeper David Button having been added to the squad following his release by Reading.

Matusiwa’s recruitment raises questions regarding skipper Sam Morsy’s future with the two playing similar roles.

Earlier today, the Egypt international was linked with Derby County and we understand there is something in the claims of Rams’ interest.

We understand sides in the Middle East, among them one from Kuwait, are also keen on Morsy, who is 34 in September.

Photo: ITFC

PhuketPete added 02:20 - Jul 14 @armchair surely Kipre is AT’s replacement?. You may be right about one more creative MF coming in (Jens would be ideal) but there again CamH has to get his chance with us sooner or later. He is still young but he looks more solid and mature than previous and need minutes… Seems to me a striker is the priority now along with keeping Omari.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 06:42 - Jul 14 A terrific player who sounds like he really wants to be here in Suffolk. Lovely positive words from Azor, he sounds like a good human being. Welcome to Suffolk Azor, to you and your family, as Ed Sheeran said last night, Suffolk is a place where you feel at home, like one big family, and ITFC are at the centre of that for tens of thousands of us.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:45 - Jul 14 I was a doubter that this would ever get done. I'm damn glad I was wrong. Great news!
1

BangaloreBlues added 06:53 - Jul 14 This is a fantastic signing and I'm finally starting to become excited for next season!
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Linkboy13 added 07:47 - Jul 14 He looks a very similar player to Sam Morsy and it might be difficult to incorporate both players into the team hope this doesn't mean Sam is moving on as he won't want to be sitting on the bench.
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Bazza8564 added 08:20 - Jul 14 Another piece of the jigsaw in place. I hope the doubters will be squirming. More coming, this is gonna be a big week
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Widj123 added 08:54 - Jul 14 Another useless signing should fit in well with the likes of Philogrene all you McKenna Ashton lovers I hope you stay when we are in Div 1
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OldFart71 added 08:56 - Jul 14 If Morsy goes then we will need two more midfielders to come in. With the replacement for Burgess who can apparently play fullback or move O'Shea across there's probably no need for another fullback. Up front we need another striker to go with Hirst and Szmodics. With potentially five keepers on the books two will need to be moved on. One loan and one sold I'd say.
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JonDouglas4Ballondor added 09:55 - Jul 14 @Widj123 - what you on about mate? played in the french first division, highly rated by a lot. Any chance you could not show up next season? your not the kind of person we need to get the club back in the prem...
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Orraman added 10:04 - Jul 14 So many fans on here were getting anxious about lack of signings but what you needed was patience. No need to rush in just to make up numbers but find your man, do all the necessary background checks while going under the radar then get them in. This is the way ITFC do business and now we are out of PL much easier to keep our intentions quiet until the deals are as good as done. Two excellent signings this weekend and no doubt more activity going on just beneath the surface

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Gforce added 10:07 - Jul 14 Widj123........Obviously a budgie troll, bu@@er off back to Carrot road, watching that very mediocre side,who are going nowhere.
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ChrisR added 11:17 - Jul 14 Looks and Sounds Great , proper tough guy at last! Welcome Azor , hoping all goes well for you all !
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Widj123 added 13:37 - Jul 14 To all you who are ridiculing me look at facts the worst season in our history £150m wasted on rubbish Burgess allowed to leave for nothing and signing a loan player who will bring us nothing, Axel also leaving back room staff leaving droves surely tells you something I have supported this club for many years anyone with a brain can see the problems
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armchaircritic59 added 17:59 - Jul 14 Widj123, obviously I don't have a brain, ok back to school for me if they will take a 70yo! Obviously you're a troll with the IQ of a brick, so maybe you can join me.
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Dwjs added 18:28 - Jul 14 Seen some videos on YouTube about him.He's tidy.
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