Central defender Luke Woolfenden has completed his £4 million move to Coventry City, signing a three-year deal and ending 14 years at his local club.

The Midlanders made an approach for the 26-year-old earlier in the window which the Blues rejected but came back in for him ahead of this evening’s deadline with Watford and Stoke City understood to have been among a number of other Championship clubs keen.

“I’m excited to be here,” Woolfenden told the Sky Blues' official website. “It’s been in the pipelines for a few weeks now. I’m really excited to get going and getting out on the pitch.

“The team have had a great start to the season and I just want to help as much as I can and hopefully the great start continues.”

He told the Town site: Luke said: “It has been an absolute honour to represent my hometown club for so long.

“When I joined the academy as such a young boy I would never have believed I would go on to make so many appearances for the first-team, let alone achieve everything we have in recent years.

“I have seen a lot during my time at the club and there have been some difficult periods as well, but to be a part of such a special time for the club and win back-to-back promotions to the Premier League will live with me forever.

“So many people have helped me along the way and I’ve played with so many special teammates who will be friends for life. I’ll always be grateful.

“It will be strange to not be an Ipswich Town player, but the club will always have a special place in my heart.”

Coventry head coach Frank Lampard added: “I’m delighted to welcome Luke to Coventry City.

“Luke is a quality player who has experienced promotion from the Championship and playing in the Premier League last season.

“He will be a great addition for us, and he will improve the strength of our squad and I look forward to working with him.”

Former East Bergholt High School pupil Woolfenden joined the Town academy aged 12 and made his first senior appearance in the Carabao Cup in August 2017.

Spells on loan at Bromley and Swindon followed, before periods in and out of the team under various managers prior to establishing himself as a key member of Kieran McKenna’s side which won back-to-back promotions.

The Chantry-raised defender’s games were more limited last year following the signing of Dara O’Shea and the same looked to be the case during the campaign ahead and, speaking at the weekend, manager Kieran McKenna confirmed that the academy product wanted to move on.

“Luke’s made it clear for quite a while that he wants to go, so we’ll see what that situation ends up in,” he said.

In total, Woolfenden, who signed a new contract which was due to run until the summer of 2027 with an option for a further year in January, made 204 Town starts and 11 sub appearances, scoring five goals.

Photo: Matchday Images

DifferentGravy added 23:36 - Sep 1 All the best Luke. Felt you were harshly treated to be honest. Certainly didnt do any less than anyone else when you played in the premiership.
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Lennie added 23:47 - Sep 1 Has loads of potential, stylish calm defender who can carry the ball forward from defence … a la Van Dyik…. In the right team he can develop into a really good player …. Doesn’t fit our style …. Good luck at Coventry
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Granthamblue62 added 02:50 - Sep 2 The heart of this team has been ripped out. Burgess and Woolfy are better than Greaves and O'Shea. The latter is no Chambo or Morsy. Its a total rebuild, so will likely finish mid-table at best this season. The trick now will be if all these new mercenary-type players can fit into McKenna's one and only game plan. Troubling times methinks!
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tcn14 added 05:08 - Sep 2 £4 million are we having a laugh. He’s worth at least double that in the current market. Lampards had our pants down, hope there’s at least a sell on clause. Never let the club down was a product of the academy who are the heart and soul of our club. Will go on and kick on hopefully. Good luck Luke thanks for the memories
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stevelincsexile added 06:24 - Sep 2 Good luck Luke you will be playing premiership football next season.
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tractorboybig added 06:41 - Sep 2 signed for a better team best of luck poor decision by the club who are in free fall
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bluewarrior added 07:06 - Sep 2 I understand the sentiment but I have total faith in the management that got us to this point and because they see the bigger picture whereas a lot of fans don’t/can’t. It’s hard to be critical of players that we all like - especially homegrown ones - but anyone that considers that those that have been allowed to go will take us to the next level are blinkered in my humble opinion. I was surprised about Chappers because at this level he has the ability to produce the unexpected but the fact that he’s in his last year and the need to make the cut to 25 exacerbated this plus with Chappers no doubt wanting to go to Pompey and almost certainly realising that game time will be limited given the new recruits, I follow the logic. The club have made a brave policy change to concentrate on young, skilful and athletic with physical attributes in the right places. This summer has been ruthless and the changes will take time to gel but I back the club’s judgement and believe that we are in a better place for the future as a result.

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blueboy1981 added 08:09 - Sep 2 Ever seen a Sinking Ship ? - you may well have now !
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BlueSkies added 09:46 - Sep 2 Ridiculous. Replacements far more expensive and we're still leaking goals right, left, and centre. Literally.
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OliveR16 added 11:08 - Sep 2 bluewarrior - 'I have total faith in the management'. Sorry pal, lost you at that point.
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bluewarrior added 13:29 - Sep 2 OliveR16 - and why not have faith in the management? They’ve improved every single aspect of the club during their tenure. Back to back promotions in the context of modern day football was an extraordinary achievement, albeit clearly a step too far too quickly. So what would you do? Stick with the same players that popular as they are couldn’t cut it in the top league? That’s madness - doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Woolfie and Chappers are not technical, physical, fast or athletic enough to cut it in the top league - or did you not notice that? Decent in the Champ but a lot of Champ clubs are now investing big and we have to do the same. The club are brave and ambitious enough to recognise that to progress they need to upgrade; faster and better, more physical players. Others that are still at the club struggled in the prem but thankfully we have a top, top manager and coach who is capable of identifying the players be can work with and improve; young and hungry. Yes, it will take time but my money is on a successful outcome because every shred of evidence suggests that they know what they’re doing.

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Billysherlockblue added 13:40 - Sep 2 Blueboy there's no sinking ship. Is man utd a sinking ship i think not. Go back to supporting the yellow. These are young lads a new team. Give them 10 games and then say your thing . Until then give yourself a break from the negativity
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JewellintheTown added 13:47 - Sep 2 We will all will miss the players who've taken us to the Prem. Understandably its a loss to us all & will be remembered fondly, but this knee jerk nostalgia driven attack on Ashton & McKenna & new players needs to stop, or you'll find out the hard way what its like to be without them too. A & McK got us there once, they'll do it again. Give them both credit for what they've done & see where it takes us. Give them all a chance to bed in. 2021 summer demolition with Cook, people going crazy, yet look at the players he brought in & McKenna too & what they helped do. The same ones some of you are crying over leaving now.

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SussexTractor added 16:41 - Sep 2 Completely underestimated by ITFC. He will go on to achieve great things. Good luck to the lad.
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Linkboy13 added 17:20 - Sep 2 These players are leaving because they want games time they are not being pushed out of the door . We have some real moaners and whingers who supposedly support the Town. The performances of the team last season were unacceptable so there had to be a major re build . The only player who has been a major loss in my opinion is Sam Morsy it's a bit like losing two players such was his influence on and off the pitch and of course to a lesser extent Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson. Of course you could buy the best eleven players in the world but there's no guarantee that they are going to gell . Has Keiran McKenna taken us as far as he can and is losing his motivation. It would cost a lot of money in compensation to get rid of him. Fans who call for the manager's head never come up with any viable alternatives mainly because in general they lack a bit of grey matter. I think in the next five or six games we will get some idea of our destiny.

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Henz10 added 12:35 - Sep 11 There is not much McKenna has got wrong and I'll always be grateful for taking us to the Prem from League 1. That said his transfers have been poor the last three windows. He's shifted most of the old guard, and I agree with most of them being moved on, but this is POOR MOVE. Asides from being left footed to at play LCB; is Greaves a better option than him? No I don't even think O'Shea is definitely better; let alone Greaves. Who was expensive and didn't play well last year. It's not just because he's a local lad and a fan he was one of our better players last year who hardly played. Having him and Clarke in the squad creates a connection to the fans and creates a great vibe. It's just a shame that it has ended this way. Woolfy is better than Clarke btw I'm not comparing them ability wise. Thank you for everything Wolfy I hope both of us get promoted this season COYB

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