The Football League succumbed to FIFA pressure in January 2005, and followed the Premier League in adopting summer and winter transfer windows, which only allowed a set time for contracted players to move between clubs on a permanent basis.
Emergency loans were still allowed, for a maximum of 93 days – in the periods when the windows were closed – but that system was scrapped last year.
Clubs have been, and still are, able to sign free agents at any time during the season, the likes of Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Christophe Berra three of Ipswich’s best.
In terms of bringing in players under contract, Town have had mixed success since the windows were introduced.
SAM PARKIN
The Swindon Town striker was brought in and seen as a replacement for Premier League-bound Shefki Kuqi.
Signed for £550,000, Parkin, who had netted 73 times in three seasons for the Robins, suffered a fractured ankle during his first season in Suffolk.
It was April before he played again and he was sold the following summer by new boss Jim Magilton, for £450,000, to Luton Town, having failed to score at Portman Road and netting just five times in 22 appearances.
SYLVAIN LEGWINSKI
The Frenchman signed for the club from Fulham in the summer of 2006 after being told by Cottagers’ boss Chris Coleman that he had no future at the club, despite having a year left on his deal.
He won the supporters and manager’s Player of the Year Award in his first season at Portman Road, scoring five times in 36 appearances, but was in and out the following campaign, and was released summer 2008.
GARETH McAULEY
The Leicester City defender joined for a fee of around £1.5m in the summer of 2008 and was immediately named captain by Jim Magilton.
The Northern Ireland international went on to have an excellent spell at Portman Road, although he did have an up-and-down period during his second season, being made available for transfer by manager, Roy Keane, in September 2009. He rejected a new deal in the summer of 2011 and joined West Brom, where he became, and still is, a Premier League stalwart.
TAMAS PRISKIN
Joined during the big-spending era of Roy Keane, having scored 19 goals in 82 games for Watford.
Signed for a reputed fee of £1.7m, but scored just nine goals in 60 appearances for the Blues, before having his contract cancelled in January 2012.
Scored the winner in the League Cup semi-final first leg, as Town beat Arsenal 1-0.
GRANT LEADBITTER & CARLOS EDWARDS
Moved to Town in the summer of 2009, Roy Keane reportedly paying £2.65m for Leadbitter and £1m-plus for Edwards.
Leadbitter went on to score 14 in 126 games for Town, before leaving on a free transfer for Middlesbrough – where he won promotion to the Premier League – in 2012.
Edwards became something of a cult figure, scoring nine times in 191 games, and eventually reverting to full-back. Released in the summer of 2014.
AARON CRESSWELL
Town were ordered to pay compensation for the young 21-year-old from Tranmere, but the fee was worth every penny, the left-back going on to become one of Town’s most consistent players.
He left three years later for Premier League West Ham, believed to be for an initial £3.75m and has two England caps.
PAUL ANDERSON
Joined in a swap deal that saw Jay Emmanuel-Thomas move to Bristol City. Flitted in and out of the starting line-up but, when called upon, he never let anyone down.
Will always be fondly remembered for his first-leg goal against Norwich, in 2014-15 play-off semi-final.
BARTOSZ BIALKOWSKI
Signed for an undisclosed fee in 2014 and wrested the gloves away from Dean Gerken.
Is arguably Town’s current best player and has saved the Blues on numerous occasions between the sticks.
MARTYN WAGHORN & JOE GARNER
Duo signed for Town in the summer of 2017 for undisclosed fees and have become instant heroes, despite their moves being treated with some scepticism.
They have both come from SPL side Rangers, neither setting the top-flight in Scotland, alight, but they have fitted in seamlessly at Portman Road.
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