Town have confirmed the return of Napoli midfielder Jens Cajuste on loan for a second season.

The 26-year-old spent a very successful spell with the Blues in 2024/25, becoming a firm fans’ favourite.

Town and the Serie A champions have agreed a loan fee of €1 million (£863,000) for the campaign ahead, as well as a €6.5 million (£5.6 million) permanent deal if the Blues are promoted back to the Premier League. A contract which runs to 2029 is understood to have been provisionally agreed.

“I’m really happy everything has fallen into place and I’m delighted to be back,” Cajuste, who will again wear the number 12 shirt, told the club website.

“I always had the ambition, going into the summer, that I would be excited to come back here and I’m really looking forward to getting started again with my teammates.

“Being at the club last season was one of the best experiences of my professional career, especially in terms of camaraderie and team spirit, as well as working under an incredible manager who I have the highest level of respect for.

“From what I have seen, the Championship is like war and one of the toughest leagues in the world, so that’s a challenge I am really getting started with.”

While the Blues were always keen to re-sign the Sweden international, for much of the summer it appeared his future lay elsewhere and a Town return an unlikely prospect.

Napoli agreed loan terms with Besiktas in Turkey with some reports claiming a medical had been pencilled in and the player set to travel to Istanbul.

However, the former Reims midfielder put that switch on hold while he assessed his options with Premier League Burnley having been very keen, while there were also links with other sides in Serie A and La Liga and Saudi Arabian club Neom made an approach just over a week ago.

The Blues, who even at that point appeared to be out of the running, look to have reinvigorated their interest after Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney turned down a move to Portman Road last weekend with the deal agreed earlier in this week and the finer details nailed down over the last couple of days.

The one-time Midtjylland man made 26 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues during 2024/25, scoring once, and was beaten to the Supporters Player of the Year award by Liam Delap by only 36 votes.

We understand Cajuste’s registration was in time for him to be available for tomorrow night’s opening game at Birmingham City.

Photo: ITFC

Bert added 17:32 - Aug 7 Classy and intelligent. He stuck to his guns that he was not going to be pushed out to a club he did not want to go to. The boy has come home.
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Ianseamark added 17:32 - Aug 7 Monkey blue Philogene isn’t fit Neither is Leif or Townsend. (Or Harry Clarke)
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Bad_Boy_Mark added 17:33 - Aug 7 Utterly brilliant player and utterly brilliant news!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:36 - Aug 7 Marvellous , this is positive especially when combined with the signings.
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OxtonBlue added 17:39 - Aug 7 Thanks for posting this Phil, you have made my day!!! Go well Tractor boys tomorrow night
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virginblue added 17:42 - Aug 7 The doom mongers won’t even acknowledge that this is a quality signing. All very well having that kind of opinion but you think they’d manage to make a positive comment about this. Just shows that some are more interested in their own vendettas than the success of our football club
1

Tampa_Florida_Blue added 17:43 - Aug 7 I’m so looking forward to see how quickly his partnership with his old buddy returns. What I have been waiting for all summer. Re LB and RB positions, people keep forgetting we have Ashley young who can both positions, also Greaves played RB at the end of last season, plus Humphreys can play there too. Just getting Akpro signed will give us a great handed to succeed.

1

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:44 - Aug 7 Great signing for this level. Anyone heard from Blueboy? Probably won’t as this is positive news
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Crawfordsboot added 17:46 - Aug 7 Well that news has sent some of the moaning drama queens scurrying for cover hasn’t it!
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SpiritOfJohn added 17:47 - Aug 7 Top player. Cajuste in time for the season opener.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:51 - Aug 7 Pleased with this one , only a loan but rather that than him not come at all, Welcome back Jens.
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number8 added 17:52 - Aug 7 Hackney has a good YouTube show reel but that’s against championship players. If Jens stays fit, his reel will as good if not better. Very pleased he’s here!!!
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darkhorse28 added 17:56 - Aug 7 Complete bargain in this day and age, pleasure to watch.
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leftie1972 added 17:56 - Aug 7 Thank goodness for that! Welcome back Jens.
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ArnieM added 17:57 - Aug 7 Finally!! Welcome back Jens.....
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Thegeniusofmuhren added 17:57 - Aug 7 Rather this than Hackney. Ready for the down votes but I'd like to see Flynn Downes back at Ipswich.
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armchaircritic59 added 17:57 - Aug 7 I always thought there was a better chance we would see Jens back here then seemed to be mooted. It's a high quality signing for the Championship, and a great chance to team up with his midfield buddy from Reims. Also I'd just like to add, he could have probably just taken the Riyals on offer and a life in the sun in Saudi Arabia. Instead he's chosen his football interests over the monetary ones ( I'm not suggesting he's going to need a begging bowl! ) That tells me a lot about the mark of the man, not just as a footballer. Welcome back Jens and please stay fit!

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blueoutlook added 18:16 - Aug 7 Great news. Good signing. On another note. This site has way too many adverts now. It pops and bangs all over the place. Jumps, glitches, has really got bad in the last year.
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allovaya added 18:20 - Aug 7 Willy’s Out!
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Gforce added 18:23 - Aug 7 Brilliant signing, will really firm up that centre midfield. Still think we'll sign another for CM ,we had five last season. Akpom ,plus another back up striker and a LB on loan and we're good to go.
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oioihardy added 18:27 - Aug 7 What a beautiful man
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allovaya added 18:29 - Aug 7 Yes, reminds me of a young Arnold Murhen…..
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bluelad7 added 18:30 - Aug 7 I said on here a month or so ago he would be back. I didn’t predict I would get that excited that I would wee myself when it was confirmed on here. Welcome back Jens, we love you.
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Dwjs added 18:36 - Aug 7 Massive!!!. He's quality...time to get that forward now.
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allovaya added 18:46 - Aug 7 I have become sooooooo excite, COYB…….!
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