Ipswich Town have emerged as one of the Premier League's most active spenders this summer, committing £106.6m to ten new signings as they prepare for their return to the top flight. Only Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal have outlaid more, but it is the transformation in the Suffolk club's recruitment philosophy under new manager Gary O'Neil that stands out most starkly.
The shift follows a difficult 2024-25 campaign in the Premier League and the departure of popular former boss Kieran McKenna, who stepped down on 10 June having steered Ipswich to three promotions in four seasons. McKenna's success was largely built on domestic talent, with 32 of his 39 permanent signings born or raised in Britain or Ireland, and just two arriving directly from clubs on the continent. That approach delivered back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024, but proved insufficient to keep Ipswich competitive at the highest level last term.
O'Neil's Ipswich have taken a markedly different route this time, looking well beyond the English game to strengthen the squad. Brazilian duo Emersonn and Florentino Luis, Serbian midfielder Sasa Lukic and Japanese international Daizen Maeda are all poised to become the first players from their respective countries to represent the club. Remarkably, of the ten permanent arrivals, only forward Chuba Akpom—signed from Ajax—is British, and even that transfer was something of a formality after a loan clause obliged Ipswich to complete the deal despite a modest spell in East Anglia.
Chairman Mark Ashton has stressed the need for greater ambition this time around, saying the club must be "a bit braver" in the market. That philosophy is reflected in the profile of players being targeted, including two goalscorers from this summer's World Cup: Maeda, who found the net for Japan, and Morocco's Issa Diop, who has joined to bolster the defence. Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso, who previously spent time on loan at Portman Road and played under O'Neil at Strasbourg, has also been linked with a move to the club.
Speaking last month, O'Neil explained the thinking behind the club's revamped approach. "Two seasons ago, the club didn't get anywhere near staying in the division and this time we need to do better," he said. "That's why we're trying to add quality to the squad from different parts of the world and we're trying to add some different attributes." The former Bournemouth and Wolves manager also suggested further additions could follow, stating after a pre-season win over Rayo Vallecano that the "plan is to do quite a bit more."
Ashton has acknowledged that a lack of athleticism and physical presence, particularly in midfield, undermined Ipswich's survival bid last season. New arrivals Florentino Luis and Lukic, both with top-level experience, are expected to address that shortfall—an especially pressing need given doubts over the fitness of regulars Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor following summer surgeries.
Goal output is another area of focus, with no Ipswich player managing more than ten non-penalty Championship goals last season. The club broke its transfer record to sign 22-year-old Brazilian striker Emersonn for an initial £24m, despite his relative inexperience, while Maeda arrives with an impressive scoring record from his time at Celtic. Ipswich have also brought in Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who at 6ft 9in is set to become the tallest player in Premier League history.
With a new manager, a revamped squad and a £30m training ground upgrade nearing completion, this represents a pivotal moment for Ipswich. History offers a cautionary note: while big-spending promoted sides like Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have gone on to survive, others—including Fulham, Southampton, Burnley and Ipswich themselves—have spent heavily only to be relegated again. Whether this global recruitment gamble pays off will become clear soon enough.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.