Kalvin Phillips and Sam Szmodics speak after signing for Ipswich Town, unveiled 24 hours before the 2024/25 season gets underway.
Ipswich Town, who early this week saw Ed Sheeran become minority shareholder, has now secured the services of Blackburn striker Sammie Szmodics, who was the leading scorer in the Championship last season, and Kalvin Phillips on loan from Man City,
The newly promoted Premier League side is believed to have agreed to a transfer fee of £9 million with Rovers, which may increase to £10 million with add-ons.
At the age of 28, Szmodics netted 27 goals in the league last season and has already found the back of the net three times this season, including a goal against Derby in a 4-2 win last weekend and two goals in a 6-1 victory over Stockport in the Carabao Cup.
Ipswich have also signed Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on a season-long loan.
He is understood to have been impressed with the project after discussions with boss Kieran McKenna and chairman Mark Ashton.
The 28-year-old chose Ipswich over several other Premier League clubs and City are understood to be paying a portion of his wages at the Tractor Boys.
Phillips was registered before Friday’s registration deadline and is available for the fixture against Liverpool.
Sam Szmodics: Signed. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/EhAG4Xr96T
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 16, 2024
Our new number 23. 🤩
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 16, 2024
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 16, 2024
💙🤍
91 games
43 goalsThank you for the memories, @SamSzmodics!#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/U6wdPagb4O
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) August 16, 2024
STATEMENT ON SZMODICS:
Ipswich Town is thrilled to announce the signing of Sam Szmodics on a permanent transfer from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
The forward joins Town on a four-year deal following a successful campaign with Rovers where he struck 33 times in all competitions, earning the Championship Golden Boot and a place in the Team of the Season.
The 28-year-old began his career at Colchester United where he scored 38 goals and assisted 16 times before making the move to Bristol City in 2019.
A loan spell at Peterborough United soon followed for Sam, who made the move to the Weston Homes Stadium permanent in 2020, becoming a key part of the team that won promotion from League One.
After a positive time at the Posh, Sam signed for Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2022, where he made over 50 goal contributions in his two-year spell at Ewood Park.
Sam also brings international experience with him having made his Republic of Ireland debut against Belgium at the Aviva Stadium earlier this year.
Sam, who will wear the number 23 shirt this season, told TownTV: “I am delighted to be here as an Ipswich Town player.
“There’s always been interest since I was a kid, but it just felt right this time with the challenge of the Premier League.
The first one was fun. Let’s do it again!
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 16, 2024
KP 🤝 Town. pic.twitter.com/rIVCmGzgkg
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 16, 2024
STATEMENT ON PHILLIPS:
The Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Kalvin Phillips on a season-long loan from Premier League champions Manchester City.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who spent the second half of last season at West Ham United, will link up immediately with Kieran McKenna’s side and could potentially be available for the 2024/25 season-opener against Liverpool on Saturday.
Kalvin, who will wear the number eight shirt during his time at Town, progressed through the ranks at Leeds United where he clocked up 234 appearances and won the Championship title in 2020.
Following promotion, Kalvin continued to be a mainstay in the Leeds team and helped the club to a top half finish in the Premier League.
Kalvin’s form attracted the attention of Gareth Southgate who called him up to the England squad in 2020, earning his first cap in September against Denmark in the Nations League.
He has won a total of 31 caps for his country, including playing every game during UEFA Euro 2020 as England reached their first final of a major tournament since 1966.
Kalvin later signed for Manchester City in 2022 where he has played 31 times for Pep Guardiola’s side to date.
Speaking after completing his move to Town, Kalvin said: “This is a day I’ve been waiting a number of weeks for now and I’m very happy to be here.
“I’ve had some great conversations with players I know here and also with the Manager, who I have obviously heard a lot about, and I’m excited to be here and be part of his team, playing how he likes to play the game.
“The conversations with Kieran McKenna and Mark Ashton have been really good and I followed Ipswich’s season closely last year, so I know the journey the Club has been on and it’s a great story which I’m now excited to be a part of.
“I want to play as many games as possible, enjoy playing football again and help the team win as many games as possible in the Premier League.”
Town Manager Kieran McKenna added: “We are very happy to have Kalvin here and he is a fantastic signing for the football club.
“He is of course a high-calibre, experienced midfielder who has played at the highest levels of the game, in both club and international football.
“He’s had a fantastic career up until this point and we believe he is going to be a big addition to the group.
“Kalvin has much to offer us in terms of his qualities both on and off the ball, and he is a really humble and likeable character. He has been a key member of a newly-promoted team in the Premier League before and of course made a big impression for Leeds United during that period.
“Like all players who come here we want to try and help them improve, whether that’s a younger player or one with more experience. That’s a big part of our culture and we’re sure Kalvin can make some big steps with us to help him and the Club have a really positive season.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Kalvin Phillips and Sam Szmodics speak after signing for Ipswich Town…
@OkaFisherITFC: Growing up I’d be use to us signing free agents every window and maybe 50k here and there on players like Piotr Malarczyk, seeing the signings this window has me in disbelief, huge thank you to the owners for bringing us back to life, bring on tomorrow 🚜 #itfc
@NDSapsed: This is truly mad to me. 3-4 years ago, we all got excited over national league players signing. Now we’ve signed Kalvin Phillips? 🤯 This truly is a different Ipswich era we are in, and I’m all for it 🩷💙🤍 #itfc
@AskewSimon: Our club is not in the Premier League to make up the numbers!!! WE MEAN BUSINESS!! Welcome @Kalvinphillips Thank you for believing in the project. #itfc
@Sophieecranee: Oh wow this day is getting better and better 🙌 ☺️ 😍💙#itfc #lovemyclub
@ksnewberry: #ITFC twitter has been unreal the last two days. Let’s fucking go 🔥
@lawseyitfc: I cannot believe we were playing Fleetwood Town in a league game just 15 months ago and now we are signing England internationals. And he is one of my favourite players since I started following England 3 years ago. I am in dreamland! #ITFC
@BlaineAdams96: Shoutout to the ownership group. They have gone full throttle this summer to back KM. Let’s gooooo 💙💙 #itfc
@kimberleyf87: What a time to be an Ipswich town fan!! Years of ups and downs…. We are definitely a club on the up…both on and off the field 💙🤍 #itfc
@samITFC: Mental. Just mental. Pinch me #itfc
@RobWashford: It has been some day, can’t wait for tomorrow #itfc
@GrantR_1867: I fancy Ipswich to have a really good season, McKenna will get Phillips back to his best.

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