Done deal! Tyrone Mings joins Bournemouth in a transfer which could eventually be worth as much as £10m to Ipswich Town, while Brett Pitman and Ryan Fraser move in the other direction

Ryan Fraser signs for Ipswich Town. Photo: ITFC (Image: Archant)

Left-back Mings, 22, has joined the newly-promoted Premier League Cherries for an ‘undisclosed fee’ on a four-year contract.

Contrary to earlier reports, the EADT and Ipswich Star now understands that the fee is an initial £8m – the bulk of which the Blues will receive up front – while various add-on clauses could see the value of the deal rise as high as £10m.

Mings’ former club, non-league outfit Chippenham Town, do not have a sell-on clause on a player they sold for £10,000 in December 2012.

Striker Brett Pitman – who had a year left on his deal at Dean Court – has joined Town on a free transfer, the 27-year-old offered as a sweetener for the Mings move. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, unable to guarantee the club’s long-serving player regular football in the top-flight, didn’t want to stand in the 27-year-old’s way. He has signed a three-year contract at Portman Road with the option of an additional year on top of that.

Brett Pitman signs for Ipswich Town. Photo: ITFC (Image: Archant)

And right-winger Ryan Fraser, 21, has joined Ipswich on a season-long loan. Bournemouth do not have the option of a recall, at any stage, on the Scottish Under-21 international.

Pitman told Ipswich Player: “It was a couple of days ago that I heard about this and it was a move that got me really excited straight away. I know one of two of the lads here – I know Cole Skuse very well - and they tell me what a good group of lads there are here.

“Obviously they did very well last season to get to the play-offs and were a bit unlucky not to get to the final, so it was a move that got me excited straight away.

“I spoke to the manager (Mick McCarthy) briefly this morning and he said there is a good set of lads here who all work hard for each other. That’s something I’ve been used to at Bournemouth.

“It was a wrench to leave because, all together, I think it’s about eight years I’ve been with them having come through the youth team.

“Yes, it’s hard to leave. When you’re settled with your family it’s difficult, but, like I said, this got me really excited because this is a massive club.

“Don’t get me wrong it would have been lovely to have plated in the Premier League for Bournemouth, but this move was right for me and right for my family and I’m glad to be here.”

He continued: “I like to think I work hard for the team and put in a real shift and maybe bring a bit of creativity as well as the goals too.

“Daryl Murphy scored a lot of gaols last season, David McGoldrick scored a lot until he got injured and Freddie Sears has done well too. It’s healthy to have competition. We’ll all work together and help each other and help Ipswich Town.

Fraser told Ipswich Player: “I got a phone call from Eddie Howe yesterday saying would I be up for it and I told him I’d love to go to Ipswich Town. Mick McCarthy phoned up and asked if I would like to come and I said ‘of course I would’.

“He spoke to me for a little bit, told me about the town and the lads and left me really looking forward to it.

“I’ve spent the last two seasons in the Championship and have that little bit of experience at this level now. Hopefully I can do well and help the lads.

“I’m told there is a good set of lads here and obviously they did well last season. They didn’t quite get over the line, but I’m sure this season we’ll have a chance.” He continued: “I like to take people on, I like to have the ball at my feet, pass it and try and score goals. I’m just a team player really, but if I can produce a little bit of magic then I will.

“It’s good knowing that I’ve got a full year to show what I can do. I’ll just keep my head down and work hard for the team and hopefully show the fans and show Mick what I can do.”

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, speaking to the Daily Echo, said: “I don’t have to tell people what I think of Brett. He has been magnificent for me personally and for this football club. He has been a great servant.

“His Bournemouth career has sort of mirrored my managerial career and to lose someone who has the club so close to their heart was an incredibly difficult decision for him and us.

“Brett had a year left on his contract and I couldn’t make him any promises regarding playing time next season.

“I really left the decision to him as to what he chose to do with the next step of his career. He wanted the security of a longer contract which we couldn’t offer him so he decided to join Ipswich.

“I want to thank him for everything he has done for me and for this football club. He will be fondly remembered by everyone here and has been instrumental in our past three promotions.

“Brett has been worth his weight in gold over the past two seasons because he has played his part on and off the pitch. He was a brilliant supporter of the other players when he wasn’t involved and was a real team player.

“That is why, at this stage of his career, I couldn’t stand in his way if there was a move he wanted to pursue. I had to be very honest with him and let him know where he stood and that is why the outcome has ended up how it has.”

On Fraser, the Cherries boss added: “Ryan is coming to a crucial part of his career and is at the stage now where I feel he needs regular football and a consistent run of games so hopefully Ipswich can provide that.

“With the quality of wide players we have at the club, I couldn’t make him any promises regarding game time so felt it would be best for his development to commit to a season-long loan with no recall.

“The decision has been made with his career in mind. Hopefully, when he comes back to us, he will be a lot better for the experience. I think he is an outstanding player now but probably need matches to take his game to the next level.”