It’s once again set to be a quiet transfer deadline day at Portman Road, with manager Mick McCarthy having completed his summer business well in advance.
Since its introduction in 2002, the final day of the August window has been notoriously quiet at Ipswich Town, with the majority of transfers completed earlier in the summer, while the loan window’s opening just after deadline day means panic moves have not been necessary.
However, there have been a few deals completed over the last 13 years.
Marcus Stewart to Sunderland, August 2002 - £3.25m
The very first summer transfer window brought a major departure for the Blues, with leading marksman Marcus Stewart returning to the Premier League following relegation. The Bristolian, who led the Ipswich scoring chart as the club finished fifth in the Premier League in 2000/02, cost the Black Cats more than £3million on a day where they also splashed out significant funds on Tore Andre Flo. Sadly, Town’s financial situation at the time meant replacing him was simply not an option. Stewart scored 31 times in 77 league starts for Sunderland, before returning to his home city to play for Bristol City.
Legwinski in, Forster out, August 2006
With transfer fees still few and far between at Portman Road, ex-Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski arrived on the final day of the 2006 summer window, having been at the club on trial for the previous week. So it was hardly a rabbit pulled out of a hat by manager Jim Magilton. There was a notable departure, though, as striker Nicky Forster headed to the exit door as he moved to Hull for £250,000. Ipswich proved to be Legwinski’s final port of call as a professional footballer, as he played more than 50 games and scored seven goals, while Forster turned out for Brighton, Charlton and Brentford before hanging up his boots in 2011.
Stevenson joins Delaney in heading to the exit door, August 2012
Scottish midfielder Ryan Stevenson managed just 13 starts and one goal during eight months at Portman Road, where he never managed to hold down a starting spot. His time in Suffolk came to and end in August 2012 when he returned to Hearts, on the same day Damien Delaney’s free transfer to Crystal Palace was postponed, 24 hours after being told he could leave the club.
A lot of talk but little action, August 2014
A year ago, departures for David McGoldrick and Tyrone Mings and arrivals for Chris Wood and Glenn Murray were rumoured, heading into deadline day, but, not for the first time, none of the talk went any further on another quiet day at Portman Road.
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