Veteran former England international Ashley Young is close to completing a move to the Blues on a one-year deal.

The 40-year-old, released by Everton at the end of last season, has undergone a medical at Town and is set to be unveiled as the Blues’ fourth signing of the summer.

We understand he is joining purely as a player with no coaching duties and will be the club’s oldest ever signing.

As reported last night, Young watched the U21s friendly at Needham Market with other members of his family, with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad. It's understood Tyler has impressed and looks set to be offered terms, although as it stands he remains a trialist.

Earlier in the week, it emerged that Young was on Town’s radar but with no deal done at that stage, a move back to his first club Watford having fallen through.

Capped by England 39 times, scoring seven goals, Young senior started his career with the Hornets having joined them aged 10.

The Stevenage-born full-back or winger moved on to Aston Villa in 2007 and then Manchester United four years later and was at the club after Kieran McKenna had been promoted to the first-team staff and has praised the Blues boss.

A spell at Inter Milan, then a return to Aston Villa followed prior to joining Everton, for whom he made 36 appearances last season, in July 2023.

Speaking last week, Young said he is keen to keep playing in the season ahead despite hitting his forties.

Photo: MI News via Reuters Connect

Dug added 17:59 - Jul 23 Will he be the back up Striker ? ..lol.. Nice guy, a decent footballer in his day but a bit old now, I thought signing Phillips last season was rather odd but this one beats that one hands done. I am very confused with what’s happening this season so far.
-3

blueoutlook added 18:01 - Jul 23 May as well have given Morsey another decent contract and he wasn’t as old. Baffling to say the least. Striker and two midfielders required Mr CEO, Mr Chairman and whatever other role you care to hold now Mr Ashton.
-3

RegencyBlue added 18:02 - Jul 23 Genuinely can’t decide what I feel about this. Hopefully it works out but if it doesn’t it’s only a year’s contract.
1

MK1 added 18:02 - Jul 23 Don't think he has a Championship winners medal. We can change that. Good player and still good enough for lower PL side. Welcome Ashley, play well.
0

tetchris added 18:02 - Jul 23 Over the hill and overpaid (£50k a week allegedly). Not sure what is happening in the player recruitment department atm. Has the software we use from Brighton got a virus :)
1

dirtydingusmagee added 18:04 - Jul 23 1 year contract and surely good enough still for Championship no bad thing imo
1

Phil1969 added 18:09 - Jul 23 Is it April! Can someone please explain the logic of selling our 21 year olds and signing a 40 yo. How is this developing a team for the hopeful step up. Its mad.
0

armchaircritic59 added 18:13 - Jul 23 As stated in a previous post, if it happened I'd have no problem with it for one season. I shouldn't think he's deteriorated at a fast rate of knots since the Premier League ended only 2 months ago, and he's making a big jump down in class too. What I'm getting ever more concerned about is the lack of another midfielder and even more, another really decent striker, preferably two, one younger and highly promising. Aparently we were well down the path of recruiting players even before last season ended. It's beginning to look like someone's pulled up the paving stones. Let's hope there's a lot more going on behind closed doors then we all realise, and maybe the will he, wont he OH thing, is playing a part. Whatever, 16 days to kick off, things need to move. And if they don't I might even start to think the unthinkable, the diatribes served up by blueboy81 and darkhorse28, might and I say might, just have a little bit of truth lurking in them somewhere!

0

Chondzoresk added 18:16 - Jul 23 Excellent signing. Very astute. Can’t see why there is so much whining……oh, let me guess, it’s because he’s 40…..the Everton fans hold him in high regard. Some of our fans need to calm the f*** down.
1

blues1 added 18:22 - Jul 23 Bluesissy. Hiw is it baffling. We have a pretty young squad overall. And having lost the experience of both Morsy and Tuanzebe, and could add Luongo to that, he wol give us some important experience. Dont think hell play every game, but a bit like Aluko was, he could be a big influence around the squad. So for 1 season this could be a very sensible signing
3

commuterblue added 18:32 - Jul 23 Love this signing. Leadership. Experience. Bosh.
3

TimmyH added 18:43 - Jul 23 Trying to get enthused by this but somehow can't, hopefully he'll do okay.
1

Bazza8564 added 18:43 - Jul 23 Absolutely nothing wrong with this signing. Experienced, Fit, and can play a number of positions. Just in case anybody is wondering why the world is standing still at the moment on big incomings and exits, until Omari is back from holiday, and his transfer goes through, all the deals lined up (including Sam's transfer to Kuwait), will have to wait. Once thats done, expect it all to happen quickly. Getting rather fed up reading all the negativity, hope the moaners will all come out and recant the nonsense once we have landed the new MF & CF. Not too many people claiming the club is up for sale today, such a relief

3

scottish_williee21 added 18:44 - Jul 23 @Commuterblue nail on the head. Wasn’t so sure when I first heard, but had time to think about it. Football has changed, I guess some of you wouldn’t take Ronaldo, Messi, Sergio ramos, Thiago silva, Jamie vardy, James Milner on a one year deal… yeah thought so.
1

Bert added 18:46 - Jul 23 @Blueboy1981 I think you will find that most seasoned Ipswich supporters have never taken anything for granted so why you think you are alone in possessing the wisdom of Solomon remains a mystery. You have critics because you are so negative and rude. If you actually understood the word delusional you would realise why that is so offensive to people with mental health challenges. As for the probable AY recruitment I am not too excited but I’m sure there is a rationale.

4

benslifeyt added 18:47 - Jul 23 If it’s cheap wages good signing . If he wants a lot I’d rather us not
1

blue added 18:59 - Jul 23 This is great news put him as centre forward he’s 40 and go for it who knows , more experience than delap on the field cmon young man !!!
0

runaround added 19:27 - Jul 23 Young is a player that I have both hated and rated throughout his career! I’m not a fan of s housery in football at which he is an expert yet it seems like it’s something that is here to stay in football. His other talents on the pitch were obvious last season and as long as he can get and stay fit I think he could be an excellent player for us next season giving us experience, leadership and know how by the bucket loads

0

armchaircritic59 added 19:28 - Jul 23 Baza8564, as ever it seems, the still, small voice of calm. I will just point out that I believe OH was back from his holiday at least 5 days ago, so there should be immenent happenings, certainly if Brentford are concerned, now that Mbuemo has gone and Wissa has thrown a strop and walked out of their training camp. As for someone mentioning exciting " links " above. I'm much more than old enough to remember, without any doubt whatsoever what was the most unlikely link in the clubs history. So much so that it was almost being touted as a done deal and splashed over the front page of the Evening star and lots of other places. I'm sure someone in here will remember Gabriel Batistuta, who even to this day, decades later, is still regarded as one of the worlds greatest ever strikers. Ever since then I've regarded rumours and links with a healthy degree of skepticism. Some actually do come true of course, many don't!

1

pistolknight added 19:33 - Jul 23 Great signing if it happens If you think he’s coming to warm the bench and play the odd 20/30 mins then think again!! He’ll play every week if fit. Can’t imagine he’d of agreed to come not to play , plus MA ain’t going to pay him massive money not to play.
1

Bazza8564 added 19:47 - Jul 23 Armchaircritic, my thanks, at least i'm not being accused of licking a turd into a polish today. Ive watched these patterns develop over the last 4 years and we never move until we are ready. The fact that OH is back and quiet means nothing other than things are progressing well. Otherwise his agent would be all over the place agitating for a fee. I also repeat what ive said before about Delaps move. If Real paid Liverpool 10m euros for TAA's early signature, anybody that thinks Liam left early so Chelsea could include him in their CWC squad without a quid pro quo is mad. Mark is as sharp as a tack, strange how the striker rumours have gone quiet isnt it... We just wait for Omari, then my money would be on at least one (I won't name him) CMF possibly more, plus a loan striker deal. No names, just work it through. And I would expect exits too, Sam isnt being released without reason, his replacement is lined up, but I'm sure there will be one or two more. After 4 years, I would hope fans would have a degree of faith in Mark to do what he always does, deliver. It's 16 days until the first game , 5 and a bit weeks until the window closes. Watch wait and listen....

1

Michael101 added 20:04 - Jul 23 He,s coming for nothing, and Ideal person to have on the bench,and the youngsters could learn quite a bit from him.
0

armchaircritic59 added 01:00 - Jul 24 Bazza8564, no turd polishing or licking from me, believe me I've had worse things said to me over the years, water off a ducks back these days, too old to give a toss! I do expect there are things going on behind closed doors that will remain there until deals are actually done, which is actually how things should be done, that includes both ins and outs. Things are very different these days to when I started watching football, no laces in footballs, and back then no one had ever heard of low blocks or false number 9's! That of course includes the business side of things, with contracts being pored over by players, CEO's at clubs, agents and legal beagles, all trying to spot the tiniest loophole! Time has moved on, and I think in general I've moved with it. So I'll exercise a bit more patience, but I still would like everything done by the first whistle at Birmingham, realising of course that there will still be another 24 days left of the window. Maybe there's still a marquee signing ( or two ) to come. We shall see.

1

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls