Ipswich Town

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Ipswich Town have signed goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen from Belgian Pro League side Union Saint-Gilloise.

The 26-year-old, who kept 21 clean sheets in 43 appearances last season, has joined the Tractor Boys on a four-year deal.

Scherpen arrives at Portman Road with previous Premier League experience, having spent four years at Brighton - mainly on loan - between 2021 and 2025.

The shot-stopper, who becomes Gary O'Neil's sixth summer signing, has also played Champions League group-stage football in each of the past two seasons.

"This is a very proud moment for me," Scherpen said. "This is a great opportunity for me to show my qualities and test myself in the best league in the world.

"I'm really looking forward to making memories together. I've had great conversations and everything has been really positive, so it has made me very excited to join Ipswich Town.

"I'm looking forward to meeting my team-mates, and I can't wait to meet the fans and get started."

O'Neil added: "He is a strong addition to our goalkeeping unit and we are delighted to have him with us.

"He has experienced playing at the top level in different countries, as well as in European competitions, and he is excited to now have the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League."

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On the latest episode of The Blue Hour, Ipswich Town fan David discussed the club's summer transfer business as they prepare for their Premier League return at the first time of asking.

Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, he said he was "very excited" after the club signed Daizen Maeda, Abdul Fatawu and Issa Diop.

David said: "We've just finished watching the World Cup and all of a sudden there are three players from the World Cup who have signed for us. It's exciting. What's not to like?"

"Maeda seemed to gain a new lease of life in the second half of last season under Martin O'Neill, non-stop running, he can play seemingly many positions up front and I think he is going to get more than just the odd goal for us as well."

Japan forward Maeda has joined from Celtic on a three-year contract having won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups during his time in Scotland.

Despite the addition of Maeda, David feels a "bona fide Premier League experienced number nine" will be needed.

See if you agree with what was said. Listen to The Blue Hour below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

Fulham's 29-year-old Serbia international Sasa Lukic is among the midfield targets for Ipswich Town this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

Read more on the trial

The Premier League return draws closer and transfer needs become all the more pressing.

Join BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour to hear what fans and experts are saying.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

Freya Sweet
BBC Sport journalist

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New forward Daizen Maeda promises he "will always run and give everything that I have" for Ipswich after arriving on a three-year contract from Celtic.

He told Ipswich's official website: "I am very proud to sign for Ipswich Town. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and I am very happy I can realise that dream with this club.

"I have loved all of the conversations with the club and they have made me feel very welcome."

The 28-year-old Japan international said his aim "will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team" and shared his excitement to "learn more about the club and meet the supporters".

Maeda scored 79 goals in 212 appearances for Celtic, where he won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

Town manager Gary O'Neil said "we are proud" Maeda decided to achieve his aim of playing in the Premier League by signing for Ipswich.

O'Neil added: "He works extremely hard and has impressive physical attributes, while also proving over a number of years playing in Scotland that he has the ability to score goals and create for his team."

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin and Harvey Bell continue their (3 in 4) Top 5 Ipswich series with a look at Town's most notable loan players.

Bell described one of his top loan players: "George Hirst. This is ignoring pretty much anything he's done in the last three years, solely basing this on his six months at the back end of the 2022-23 season.

"He was brilliant, exactly what we needed. Freddie Ladapo didn't have anyone challenging him at the time for the striker position. Hirst scored six goals at the end of that season, including the one at Barnsley."

Listen in full below or on BBC Sounds here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Derby County are edging closer to bringing Ipswich forward Sammie Szmodics back to the club.

The Rams are trying to sign the 30-year-old in a deal worth more than £4m after he spent the second half of last season at the Championship club.

If the move goes through he will link up with boss John Eustace for a third time, having also worked with him at Blackburn.

Republic of Ireland international Szmodics scored three goals in 13 games as Derby finished eighth last term, four points adrift of the play-offs.

Under Eustace at Blackburn he won the division's Golden Boot when he scored 27 goals in 2023-24.

Ipswich have been open to letting Szmodics leave this summer but he has been with the group during pre-season.

They paid Blackburn £9m in 2024 and he has scored five goals in 39 appearances for the Tractor Boys.

Japan forward Daizen Maeda, 28, is scheduled to have a medical with Ipswich Town before completing his transfer from Celtic for an initial £8m plus £2m in add-ons. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Issa Diop says he knows Ipswich Town is "the right place for me" after his move from Fulham was confirmed on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old central defender has signed a four-year deal until 2030 after representing Morocco at this summer's World Cup,

He played five of his country's games - scoring against the Netherlands - as they reached the quarter-finals.

"I'm excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town," Diop told club media.

"I know how big the club is and have enjoyed all of the conversations I have had before making the move. I know this is the right place for me.

"It has been a busy summer for me, representing Morocco at the World Cup, but I am proud to be joining Ipswich Town and am looking forward to meeting the staff, my team-mates and the supporters very soon."

Alongside his international exploits, Diop brings with him the experience of 173 Premier League games in four-year spells at both Fulham and West Ham respectively.

"Issa is an experienced player who has played a significant amount of his career in the Premier League, so we're delighted to have him with us," added Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil.

"He is an imposing defender with good quality and a will to win, making him an excellent addition to the group.

"Having played and scored at the World Cup this summer, we're looking forward to Issa joining up with the squad soon."

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We asked you to pick one player you would like to move on this summer and one realistic target you want Ipswich to bring in before the transfer window shuts.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Shaun: I would love to sign Zian Flemming from Burnley and I would offload George Hirst if possible.

Reuben: I would say (and some people might disagree with me) that Jack Clarke should leave the club, as long as Jaden Philogene stays. I think we should cash in on a player who's had a good season but is really not good enough for the top division. He was practically non-existent in our last season in the Premier League and I still think he won't be good in the top flight. He has shown some great performances, but he has been sloppy in many areas of his game.

James: Daizen Maeda from Celtic would be great. He is an all-action forward, with goals and assists to his game. I would say a reluctant goodbye to Philogene. If he has designs on leaving. It isn't good to hold on to a player with those intentions.

John: I heard Ipswich are in for Maeda from Celtic. Do not hang about - this guy can run and run, and gives 100% no matter where he starts (but he is best out wide on the left).

George: We should go all out for Liam Delap. Bring him back on a season-long loan with an option to buy. It would suit all three parties, especially after a confidence-destroying spell at Chelsea.

Now the dust has settled on the 2026 World Cup, you can officially review your Predictor results for the tournament.

If you played more than four rounds, BBC Sport has done a deep dive into your predictions, tournament performance and compared you to other players.

Don't worry, though, Predictor isn't stopping at international tournaments! Pre-season has kicked off and there are plenty of friendlies and European qualifiers to keep us occupied before the new season gets under way.

So how do you fancy your chances of correctly predicting the scores for our six selected matches every week?

BBC Sport has launched a new weekly Predictor game to cover the 2026-27 season, allowing users to pick what they think will be the result from six fixtures from across the leagues.

There will usually be a Friday deadline and the game will also feature streaks, so make sure to build it into your weekly football habits.

Lock in your first round of predictions before Friday, 24 July here

If you're wondering how to play, here are a few easy steps:

• Click on the link above to take you to the selections page.

• For every match, you either choose a winning team or select a draw - once your prediction has been submitted you won't be able to change it, so be sure to pick carefully.

• Then wait for the results to roll in to see how you have done.

• Share your results with your friends and family.

• Every consecutive round you play adds one to your streak, but if you miss a round then your streak will reset to zero.

Ipswich have agreed a deal in principle to sign Celtic's Japanese forward Daizen Maeda, 28, for £8m plus £2m in add-ons. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mohamed Moallim
BBC Sport Journalist

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The Premier League's financial landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. Since 2016 total summer transfer spending has risen from £1.16bn to a record £3.19bn in 2025 – an increase of almost 175%.

On the surface, that suggests transfer figures are continuing to accelerate. Headline fees, though, tell only part of the story.

Research by Kieran Maguire and colleagues at the University of Liverpool suggests some of the Premier League's earlier record signings represented even greater investments when measured against clubs' buying power at the time.

Using Premier League broadcasting revenues as an index, Alan Shearer's £15m move from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United in 1996 remains the league's biggest transfer relative to clubs' spending power. Rio Ferdinand's £29.1m move to Manchester United in 2002 and Juan Sebastian Veron's £28.1m arrival at Old Trafford in 2001 also rank above any of this summer's blockbuster deals.

The same model suggests Trevor Francis' £1m move from Birmingham City to Forest in 1979 – English football's first £1m transfer – would equate to about £173m in today's market.

That does not mean the fees paid for Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali were modest. Rather, it reflects how dramatically Premier League revenues have grown, allowing clubs to spend sums that would once have been unimaginable.

When Jack Grealish became Britain's first £100m footballer when joining City from Villa in 2021, the transfer marked another turning point in the evolution of the market.

Only five years later, nine-figure deals are no longer viewed as extraordinary. They have become a familiar feature of Premier League transfer windows.

The next milestone may not be far away.

While no Premier League club has yet paid £200m for a player, football's financial ceiling continues to rise and the first transfer of that magnitude no longer feels beyond the realms of possibility.

• Read more on transfer fee evolution

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Ipswich Town's newest signing Abdul Fatawu says he already understands the "ambition" and "expectation" of the club as a return to the top flight nears.

The winger, who joins the Tractor Boys on a five-year deal from Leicester City, scored nine goals and contributed eight assists across 44 Championship appearances last season.

"I am proud to have signed for Ipswich Town," Fatawu said. "The ambition the club has is very exciting and I'm looking forward to being a part of that as we prepare for the Premier League season.

"After speaking to the manager, I know what the expectation is and I'm looking forward to meeting my team-mates and starting work.

"I have played against Ipswich a few times during my time in England and I know how passionate the supporters are for the club, so I'm excited to play for them and show them what I can do."

The 22-year-old featured in all of Ghana's games at this summer's World Cup, an achievement which saw him surpass 30 appearances for his country.

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil added: "He is a young player who has already gained good experience in the game. We are excited to have him with us.

"He has strong physical and technical attributes, he is comfortable on the ball and he can test the opposition in one-on-one situations, so he will provide us with good options within the squad."

Fatawu will join the first team squad for Ipswich's pre-season training camp in Spain later this week.

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"It was a move I knew I wanted to make," says Ipswich Town's newest signing Kayne van Oevelen after penning a five-year deal at Portman Road.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper, who joins the Tractor Boys from boyhood club FC Volendam, made 32 appearances and kept three clean sheets in the Eredivisie last season.

"As soon as I knew Ipswich were interested, it was a move I knew I wanted to make," van Oevelen said. "I'm excited to be here, to continue my career in England and to learn from everyone at a big club like this.

"It is an exciting time for this club, being back in the Premier League, and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started."

New boss Gary O'Neil added: "We are pleased to be able to add him to our goalkeeping unit. He is a young goalkeeper, who has had a good taste of senior football in Volendam, and wants to continue to progress his career in England.

"He joins a good goalkeeping group at the club and he will strengthen us in that area of the pitch."

Van Oevelen is set to link up with the first team squad at Ipswich's pre-season training camp in Spain later this week.

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Former Newcastle and Ipswich Town striker Alex Mathie has paid tribute to Kevin Keegan.

Keegan - who died on Monday - signed Mathie for Newcastle in 1993.

Mathie told BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour: "Very sad, really very sad. They've lost a football great there as a player, a manager and a person.

"He was a great guy, he signed me from Morton and set me on my career that I had. He made me a better player as well. Really sad news.

"He loved football, he loved Newcastle. A very infectious person. Makes you want to work hard for them and do well for them.

"He was never defensive, he was always attack-minded. He never played side to side, always played forward. Just as a person, you could talk to him. He was a really top guy.

"He was brilliant, he played attractive football. That's what Newcastle fans loved about him, he played attractive football, forward-thinking football and tried to score goals at every opportunity.

"You wouldn't think he was a superstar when he played, because he was very humble.

"He was always in five a-sides. That's what his training was all about. He was always laughing and joking with the players."

Listen to the full chat on the link below or on BBC Sounds here

Ipswich Town have agreed a deal to sign 29-year-old Morocco centre-back Issa Diop from Fulham for about 10m euros (£8.5m). (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Thirty-four years ago a £13m transfer caused national outrage in Italy.

When AC Milan signed Gianluigi Lentini from Torino in 1992 for a then world record fee, newspapers called the deal "obscene", while the Vatican's official newspaper described it as "an offence against the dignity of work".

Today that fee would barely register among the Premier League's biggest transfers.

This summer alone Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest £116m for Elliot Anderson, and Tottenham spent a club record £100m on Sandro Tonali.

These are not the only major deals. Tottenham also agreed an £85m move for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, Barcelona paid £69m to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, and Manchester United spent £50m on Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

It is the first transfer window in Premier League history to produce three £100m-plus signings - and there are still weeks to go before deadline day on 1 September.

During the 2025 summer window English top-flight clubs spent a record £3bn.

So why are transfer fees continuing to climb? Why are clubs paying record sums for players already playing in England? And why are more clubs willing to sell some of their biggest stars?

Read more here on the big spending taking place in the Premier League

With the 2026 World Cup done and dusted, the return of club football is back on everyone's minds.

Pre-season preparations are under way and we want you to have a think about Ipswich's squad.

Tell us one player you would like to move on this summer and one realistic target - away from expected signing Abdul Fatawu - you want Town to bring in before the transfer window shuts.

Get in touch with your views here