Ipswich Town has made a significant signing, securing defender Jacob Greaves from Hull City. The 23-year-old centre-back joins the club for an initial fee of around £15 million, with potential add-ons worth approximately £3 million. Greaves has signed a five-year deal that will keep him at Ipswich Town until 2029.
The Athletic reported that Greaves had been given permission to undergo a medical as Ipswich Town looked to complete a joint move for Greaves and his Hull City teammate, Jaden Philogene. However, the transfer was delayed due to Philogene attracting interest from other clubs. Ipswich had made a joint offer of about £35 million plus add-ons for the Hull pair.
While Ipswich continues to pursue Philogene, his former club Aston Villa has taken action to re-sign him by activating a matching rights clause negotiated in his deal with Hull last summer. Everton has also made a £16 million bid for the Villa academy graduate, and Crystal Palace is closely monitoring the situation.
Greaves, who joined Hull City’s youth system in 2008, was considered a key player in the club’s bid for promotion to the Premier League. He has been a regular in Hull’s defense over the past four seasons, making 177 first-team appearances. In the 2023-24 season, Greaves was named in the Championship Team of the Season and voted as Hull City’s Player of the Year.
Ipswich Town is gearing up for their first season back in the Premier League since 2001-02 after securing back-to-back promotions. Last season, Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess were the first-choice center-backs under manager Kieran McKenna. George Edmundson and Axel Tuanzebe were also utilized in defense, with Tuanzebe predominantly playing as a right-back towards the end of the campaign.
In preparation for the new season, Ipswich Town has already completed the permanent signings of Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea and defender Ben Johnson from West Ham United.
This signing of Jacob Greaves adds further depth and quality to Ipswich Town’s defense as they prepare for the challenges of the Premier League. Greaves’ impressive performances for Hull City, along with his recognition in the Championship Team of the Season, highlight his abilities as a top-level defender. Ipswich Town’s proactive approach in the transfer market shows their ambition to compete in the Premier League and establish themselves as a formidable force. With the addition of Greaves, Ipswich Town’s defensive options become more diverse and robust, providing manager Kieran McKenna with increased flexibility in his team selection. As the club continues to pursue Jaden Philogene and strengthen their squad further, fans can look forward to an exciting season ahead.