Ipswich Town have struck an agreement to bring Paraguay international Julio Enciso back to Portman Road, this time in a permanent switch from French side Strasbourg. The 22-year-old forward is set to reunite with manager Gary O'Neil, who oversaw his development while in charge at Strasbourg last season.
Enciso is already a familiar face for Ipswich supporters, having spent a six-month loan spell at the club in 2025 during a temporary stint away from Brighton & Hove Albion. His performances during that period, combined with his rapport with O'Neil, appear to have been decisive factors in the club's pursuit of a more permanent arrangement.
O'Neil, who took charge at Ipswich this summer following spells at Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, is understood to have been a driving force behind accelerating the move for the attacker. Having worked closely with Enciso during his time at Strasbourg, the manager was keen to secure his services again as he builds his squad ahead of the club's return to the Premier League.
Strasbourg, who share ownership with Chelsea through the BlueCo group, had regarded Enciso highly and believed he possessed the qualities to eventually earn a move to Stamford Bridge. Instead, he now appears set for a switch to Suffolk. While the exact transfer fee has not been made public, reports suggest it will represent a significant chunk of Ipswich's remaining budget for the summer window. The deal is also expected to hand Strasbourg a healthy profit on the £7.7m they paid to sign Enciso only a year ago.
The move forms part of a busy summer of recruitment for Ipswich, who have already completed ten major signings as they prepare for life back in the top flight. Among the new arrivals are winger Daizen Maeda from Celtic, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City, and club-record purchase Emersonn, who joined from Toulouse. It remains to be seen whether the fee for Enciso will exceed the reported £24m the Tractor Boys paid to land Emersonn earlier in the window, though it is expected to be one of the club's more notable outlays this summer.
Ipswich's recruitment drive comes after the club secured promotion from the Championship, and O'Neil has clearly been given the resources to strengthen his squad significantly as they look to establish themselves in the Premier League. The addition of Enciso, a player already familiar with the demands of English football and with a strong understanding of his manager's methods, could prove a shrewd piece of business as the Tractor Boys aim to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.
Attention will now turn to the opening weeks of the season, with Ipswich set to begin their Premier League campaign at home against Sunderland on 22 August. Should the Enciso deal be finalised before then, the Paraguayan forward could potentially be involved in O'Neil's plans from the outset as the club embarks on a challenging return to the top flight.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.