Republic of Ireland striker Sammie Szmodics is bound for the Premier League after signing for Ipswich Town from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old, who joined Blackburn from Peterborough United in 2022, shot to wider attention last season, the attacking midfielder finishing as the top scorer in the English Championship, with 27 goals in 44 league games.
After 12 seasons in the lower tiers of the English Football League - including a brief stint on loan in the National League in 2015-16 - Szmodics is at last headed for the top flight.
"It's every boy’s dream to play in the Premier League and I’ve always said to my friends, family and agents that I’ll get to the top one day," Szmodics told the Ipswich Town website.
"There’s nothing more I want than to score at Portman Road for Ipswich Town. I am over the moon to be here and looking forward to the season ahead."
Fermanagh man Kieran McKenna will be hoping his side make the perfect start to life back in the top flight when they host Liverpool early on Saturday afternoon.
The Suffolk outfit last played in the Premier League in 2002, and they'll enter the campaign with a new minority stakeholder in singer Ed Sheeran.
Sheeran is a lifelong fan of the Tractor Boys and has been shirt sponsor for the men's and women’s teams since 2021.
The 33-year-old’s total stake in the Premier League club, acquired through Gamechanger 20 Ltd, is 1.4%.
As part of the agreement, Sheeran will have long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road, which he has personalised ahead of the 2024-25 season.
He will not be a voting shareholder or a board member.
"I am really excited to have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club," Sheeran told Ipswich’s website.
"It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity."
Follow the RTÉ Sport WhatsApp channel for the best news, interviews, analysis and features, as well as details of our sports coverage across all RTÉ platforms.
