Ipswich Town return to the Premier League this season determined not to repeat the mistakes of their previous top-flight stint, having invested more than £100m in ten new signings following last season's runners-up finish in the Championship. The spending spree makes them the division's fourth-biggest net investors this summer, a marked shift in approach after their 2023-24 relegation, which came despite assembling one of the Championship's most talented squads.
That relegation, while painful, indirectly boosted the careers of Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson, both of whom moved on to bigger opportunities after Ipswich's drop. Club officials appear to have taken the lesson to heart this time, prioritising players with proven Premier League pedigree rather than simply the best available Championship talent.
Among the incoming faces are Issa Diop and Sasa Lukic, both arriving from Fulham, and Florentino Luís, who joins after a difficult debut season in England with Burnley. Luís and Lukic are expected to add steel and defensive discipline in central midfield, though the club may still look to bolster that area further. Ipswich have also cast their net beyond the usual domestic market, searching for value in less conventional places.
The most eye-catching arrival is Emersonn, a 22-year-old Brazilian forward who joins from Toulouse for a club-record £24m. He becomes the first Brazilian to represent Ipswich and arrives with the weight of expectation to deliver goals that could keep the club up. Reports suggest he needed extra time in pre-season to reach full match fitness, but his pace in behind defences could prove valuable against sides that push up.
Leading the dugout is Gary O'Neil, who was quickly identified as the man to replace Kieran McKenna after the popular manager departed following promotion. O'Neil brings Premier League experience from spells at Bournemouth and Wolves, plus a stint with Strasbourg, and is regarded as a manager skilled at keeping teams competitive against the odds. His pre-season began sluggishly, including a loss to Osasuna as players adjusted to his methods, but performances improved in a match against Rayo Vallecano.
One player who could thrive under O'Neil is Sindre Walle Egeli, a 19-year-old Norwegian who cost Ipswich £17.5m and has drawn comparisons to countryman Erling Haaland, who has offered him informal advice. Walle Egeli scored four goals in 18 starts during his debut Championship campaign and has reportedly impressed in a more advanced No 10 role since returning from the summer break. Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu, who endured a difficult World Cup with an ultra-defensive Ghana side under Carlos Queiroz, will also be hoping for a fresh start after suffering relegation with Leicester last season.
Off the pitch, Ipswich are nearing completion of a £30m training ground redevelopment, which includes new facilities for the first team, academy and women's side — an upgrade seen as essential to match rivals and attract future signings. The club's ownership group, Gamechanger 20, remains popular among supporters after delivering on its promises since 2021, despite a controversial decision to host Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at Portman Road last season, which briefly overshadowed the club's promotion push.
Ipswich begin their Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on Saturday, August 22, as part of an opening weekend that also features newly promoted Hull City and Coventry City. With genuine investment behind them and a manager known for defensive resilience, the Tractor Boys will hope this third top-flight attempt proves more durable than the last.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and Standard Football.