Town have completed the signing of Irish international winger Kasey McAteer from Leicester City.

The fee is understood to be £11.5 million plus add-ons with the player having signed a four-year deal.

Yesterday it emerged that the Blues were targeting the 23-year-old with the clubs quickly tying up a deal.

The Blues have been looking for a right-sided attacker to replace Omari Hutchinson, who left to join Nottingham Forest for £37.5 million last weekend.

“I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started,” Town’s new number 20 shirt told the club site.

“It’s a very attractive project which is being built here and I want to add myself to that.

“I’ve been to Ipswich as an away player and I know how good the support is. As soon as I heard Ipswich were interested it was the only move I wanted to make.

“The aim is to get promoted again and that’s what we will push for every day. I want to be a part of that and I aspire to be the best version of myself, which is something I will be looking to bring to the squad.

“I’m excited to get to work with the boys and the staff and I can’t wait to meet the fans.”

Northampton-born McAteer joined Leicester aged eight and made his first senior appearance in the Premier League in a 4-0 victory over Newcastle in December 2021.

Having had spells on loan with Forest Green Rovers, with whom he won the 2021/22 League Two title, and AFC Wimbledon, the right-sided forward has gone on to make a total of 27 starts and 29 sub appearances for the Foxes, scoring eight goals, including his side’s second in the 2-0 win against the Blues at the King Power Stadium in May. He was a member of the squad which pipped Town to the 2023/24 Championship title.

McAteer has won six full Republic of Ireland caps, scoring one international goal. He will become the fifth senior Ireland international in the squad alongside skipper Dara O'Shea, Chieo Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor.

The signing has been made in time for McAteer to be eligible for Saturday’s visit to Preston North End.

That would be his second trip to Deepdale in eight days having come on as an 86th-minute sub for the Foxes in their 2-1 defeat there last Saturday.

McAteer also came on as a sub in the opening day victory over Sheffield Wednesday by the same scoreline, in the 78th minute, as well as playing the full 90 in the on-penalties Carabao Cup defeat at Huddersfield.

Photo: ITFC

JimmyP45 added 11:32 - Aug 22 Hope this guys brings some quality and attacking threat that we have been lacking so far this season. Yes on paper it’s a lot of money for a player Leicester appear to neither use or want but he could be a really good buy for us. Remember that it’s common knowledge we have sold players for big money and are sitting on a pile of cash so clubs will know they can demand more from us for their players.

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chepstowblue added 11:32 - Aug 22 He'll never be as good as Omari, but surely to God will be better than Ogbene. It is slightly underwhelming, but I hope we get the best out of whatever he's got. We look a shadow of what we were when we started our last championship campaign, and can only hope that this disjointed looking group gel in time to give us an opportunity this season.
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Linkboy13 added 11:37 - Aug 22 It's a lot of money but British based players are over priced. But he's only 23 so might be a good investment. Let's give him a fair chance before we make judgements.
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Gilesy added 11:38 - Aug 22 You're definitely a MUCH better footballer than me. Welcome.
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Maccaisgod added 11:44 - Aug 22 Welcome and say hello to a great future at a great club.
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bluewarrior added 11:49 - Aug 22 Everyone’s entitled to an opinion but those that are criticising the deal (almost certainly from an uninformed and one dimensional perspective) ought to take a few mins to read the comments on various Foxes forums and they might well change their tune!
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PimsNumber1 added 11:50 - Aug 22 Quick deal ...Leicester drove him here .11m is plain stupid last minute spending on yet another winger
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darkhorse28 added 11:56 - Aug 22 Londonblue73 - Clarke better than Broadhead, Sam and Mass (as of 23/24) not as good as Taylor and Azor.., Greaves and O’Shea better then Burgess and Wolf. Are you sure? They might some of them be a little younger, and have more potential, I’ll agree there, but as of today, they are behind that group, and by a distance. If Greaves and OShea go on to be better players, then fair enough, but we spent £30 million, to take a sideways step (at best) - that’s not how you build success.., not least because as KM says, we sell them after 12 months if they do develop. It’s a bizarre level of delusion to suggest they’re better. There is of course an acid test. You’re suggesting we’ll get more than 96 points this season. I’ll say the group will have more technical quality, but will never look like a team, just like we got worse last season, not better. Nowhere near 96 points.., you’ll be measurably very wrong. Support is one thing. Blind delusion doesn’t help us improve. We haven’t been a ‘team’ a long time before this window.., the group hasn’t come together since Sams role was diminished.., the natural end, but where was the planning and contingency? We still have just one CDM who’s never played in England! That Ashton and KM can’t plan, and do strategy, or even have a basic contingency for his own key roles.., isn’t conjecture anymore, it’s just a fact. 500 inside forwards and NO CDM’s when the double pivot is the basic 100% nailed on requirement in every KM team and formation. It’s comical at this point.., he likes rotation across the front, that’s fine,.., we have 9 options!! ONE option for two slots across 50 odd games.., and we will sign someone I’m sure .., but where the process and planning? Mass and Sam turning 34 and 35 this year has been a thing for .., well literally 34 and 35 years!!! That’s evidence by the way .., not jump off a cliff blind emotive faith.

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itfc2024 added 12:00 - Aug 22 He’s not good enough even at top half Championship level, so £12m is a steal. But only if we don’t spend it on complete rubbish this is a view from a Leicester fan
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darkhorse28 added 12:04 - Aug 22 He’s young, quick and has quality, let’s get right behind him, he’ll probably do better than Ogbenne who we paid WAY too much for .., Bournemouth are signing world class left backs for £11 million.., that’s how we need to judge ourselves, if we don’t want our CEO and Manager to hide behind ‘but Cheltenham are a tough side, and we’re tinpot third division you know’. The plan. There isn’t one. Reactionary chaos.., but poorly instructed decisions, sometimes have great outcomes.., let’s try and get lucky, because strategically we’re very poor. One CDM who’s never played in England, and we sign our 500th inside forwards, more lightweight, more better with than without the ball, and another player who’s going to scratch his head at why we can’t win and regain possession in midfield. It’s like watching the gaffer single handily prove that the same mistake, repeated, does indeed get the same outcomes. Ego and stubbornness - what’s the opposite of elite.

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wischip added 12:07 - Aug 22 Ok we've now got a full complement of 10s/attacker-wingers. Back to the priority tasks: 1 more striker, 1 more central midfielder.
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Lightningboy added 12:07 - Aug 22 Welcome...now go on and bury the ghost of Hutchinson.
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Monkey_Blue added 12:08 - Aug 22 Still want the Norwegian lad but this is a positive signing. We wouldn’t be spending this much on him just to add to the numbers. I have more faith in the football professionals at the club than anyone on here.
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Countryboyblue added 12:10 - Aug 22 A really great player. This is an exciting signing. All the best Kasey at ITFC.
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chripswich added 12:10 - Aug 22 Just seen Ashton and McKenna leaving PR. Kieran was lugging a barrel, Ashton had a big spoon…
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tetchris added 12:10 - Aug 22 The fact is that a lot of young PL players are getting signed by clubs in France, Germany, and Spain now whereas in previous seasons they would have ended up signing for championship clubs on loan or permanently. As a result young championship players are becoming more expensive. In reality he probably isn’t worth what town paid but market forces influences the fees. Personally I hope we do sign Egeli in addition to this lad as the Norwegian lad looks an exciting prospect. He’s a young Irish international and has potential. Under KM’s coaching and management he should improve. Hopefully in a couple of seasons time we will be getting bids of £35-£40 million for him.

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unstableblue added 12:13 - Aug 22 Welcome Casey, remember watching you in a Championship game a few seasons back, and you were excellent and one to watch. Foxes fans see you as a great character and hard worker. At 23 under McKenna, in a strong dressing room with multiple Irish internationals, here’s to you developing further and making us stronger.
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runningout added 12:20 - Aug 22 again some posters on here make me wonder what sad individuals if they are not. That give the impression of being
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jas0999 added 12:22 - Aug 22 Well, he is here now and it’s not a loan deal. Let’s get behind the lad and hope he can play a part. Welcome to the club!
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DavoIPB added 12:27 - Aug 22 Leicester fans cannot believe what we paid for him. Bit part player who they see as mid championship level at best. He had one good game against us last season and we sign him. Seen that before.
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breezy_runner added 12:31 - Aug 22 Good signing in my opinion. Young, knows this league (and how to get promoted from it) and also should have no issues settling in with his Irish connections. All these slagging him off were probably the same ones when we signed Hirst, Luongo etc. Sometimes all it takes is for a player to find the right club and coach and boom - the magic happens. Hopefully that will be here at ITFC! With McAteer, Philogene, Clarke & Ogbene our wingers in this 1st half of the season that should be plenty to start cracking on now. If we manage to get this Norwegian lad in as well the more the merrier! COYB

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Alphawhiskey added 12:31 - Aug 22 Welcome to ITFC young man. I'm sure he will give it 100% which is all we ask. Yeah ok, I took the pee a bit regarding the price, but that isn't the lads fault. I still think Leicester have had our pants down but then again we did the same to Wrexham. That's modern football.
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Ebantiass added 12:58 - Aug 22 Welcome to our fantastic club, though I dont know much about you Im more than willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and trust our managers trust in you.WELCOME and the very best of luck.
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LoveIpswichForever added 13:08 - Aug 22 Chuffed with this one. Hard working, with a streak of fight. Competitive. Technically solid. Like it. Welcome!!!
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VitalSigns added 13:25 - Aug 22 A previous work colleague is a LCFC season ticket holder (he has my sympathy). His assessment of McAteer is ‘ he is average but a change of coach and environment could do him good. Got some talent and works hard but not premiership level. But players develop at different ages so you never know. Certainly not catastrophic that he has left. We need the money to avoid points deductions!’ He sounds very Burns-like. Lots of energy and drive. Fingers crossed he turns out to be a good addition.

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