Town are reported to have agreed a deal with Ajax to sign Chuba Akpom on loan with an option to buy should the Blues win promotion to the Premier League.

Earlier, Sky Sports News revealed that Town had made a late move to sign Akpom from the Amsterdam club, who had already agreed a deal with Birmingham City with a medical lined up for today.

Now, the satellite broadcaster says terms have been agreed in principle with Ajax with Akpom potentially joining the Blues on loan for 2025/26 before signing permanently next summer for £7 million if Town go up, the same terms as had been set with the Midlanders, who the Blues visit for their Championship opener on Friday.

Ajax are said to have left it with the player to make the final decision with a medical at Town potentially happening within the next 24 hours.

Akpom’s former club Boro and Greek side Olympiacos are also believed to be interested in the one-time Arsenal trainee.

Newham-born Akpom came through the Gunners’ academy ranks and had spells on loan at Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton and in Belgium with Sint-Truiden while a player at the Emirates.

Having made one senior start and 11 sub appearances, the 6ft tall striker moved on to PAOK Salonika in Greece for £900,000 in August 2018.

After two years, he joined Boro for £2.75 million, returning to PAOK on loan for 2021/22, before joining Ajax for an initial €12.3 million (£10.7 million), rising to €14.3 million (£12.4 million) with add-ons.

He spent the second half of last season on loan in Ligue 1 in France with Lille, who chose not to take up an option to sign him permanently at the end of his spell.

An England cap at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels, Akpom has scored 21 goals in 39 starts and 40 sub appearances for Ajax in all competitions and bagged three in six starts and nine games from the bench during his short spell with Lille. For the Teessiders, he netted 34 goals in 59 starts and 23 games from the bench.

Town are very much in the hunt for another striker - probably two - to compete with George Hirst, Liam Delap having moved to Chelsea at the end of last season for £30 million, while Akpom also operates as a number 10.

Photo: Stefan Koops - EYE4images via Reuters Connect

blueboy1981 added 16:31 - Aug 4 Whatever has happened to TWTD ? - I’m sure it’s been taken over by Kids and Hissy Fit Dreamboats …. !!!
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ImAbeliever added 16:41 - Aug 4 The World To Day is going crazy
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Alberto_the_frog added 16:44 - Aug 4 Fat boy Tim- he's 30 in a couple of months. Article says option to buy if we get promoted. I would not want to be going into a premier league season planning to buy a striker who is going to be 31 in a couple of months . He would be PAST his peak.
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OldFart71 added 16:51 - Aug 4 Why are people talking about Hirst leaving ? I haven't seen any rumours of offers or even clubs being interested and what's the sense in getting rid of one and getting another in. Even if Cajuste joins us as well we are still short in midfield as we got rid of four and only one has come in.
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apnorman23 added 17:14 - Aug 4 Still think Ipswich are missing a trick by not offering Michael Antonio a play as you go incentive contract. Free transfer, now fully fit after his horrific car crash. An absolute beast at Championship level. Certainly improve the defence in training as he likes a good rumble like Delap did. Still quick as can be too.
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tetchris added 17:31 - Aug 4 We still need 4 strikers imho so the loan signing from a PL club would fit the bill and maybe another striker if we allow AAH to go out on loan again.
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Ipswichbusiness added 17:43 - Aug 4 He is 29 years old. He looked very promising in his youth at Arsenal winning many England caps at a junior level. Since then he has had numerous clubs, the only spell where he really did well was at Middlesbrough from 2020 to 2023 under Michael Carrick. However, Carrick could be seen as a similar type of coach to KMc, so maybe he could do well here.
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Linkboy13 added 18:05 - Aug 4 I'm not saying he's better than Hirst but his goal scoring record in the championship is far superior . Just a minor detail if you are a Hirst fan goals are not everything.
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