Nigeria prospect Chuba Akpom completes loan move from Ajax to Ipswich Town

Nigeria prospect Chuba Akpom has sealed a loan transfer from Dutch side Ajax to EFL Championship side Ipswich Town.

In a statement on their official website, the club said: “The Club is excited to announce the signing of striker Chuba Akpom on a season-long loan from Ajax.

“The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at French side Lille, featuring in the Champions League, and has extensive Championship experience with the likes of Middlesbrough, Brighton, Hull City and Nottingham Forest.”

Speaking after putting pen to paper, Akpom told TownTV: “I was really excited when I heard of the interest and I’m delighted to have joined a club with such big ambitions. I watch a lot of football and have always thought Ipswich would suit my style, so this move makes perfect sense.

“I have had lots of good experiences over the last few years, at Ajax and playing in the Champions League with Lille, and I feel like all of these have improved me as a player and helped me be the person I am now. I’m here to do as much as I can do to help the team, in the changing room and on the pitch, and I’ll bring a winning mentality here.”

After coming through the Arsenal youth system, Chuba spent loan spells away from the Gunners with Brentford, Coventry, Hull and Brighton, before then joining Belgian side Sint-Truiden for the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.

Akpom then joined PAOK Salonika in Cyprus on a permanent basis, scoring 14 goals over two seasons, before returning to England with Middlesbrough in September 2020. During his time at the Riverside, the striker returned to PAOK on loan for the 2021/22 campaign then enjoyed a hugely successful 2022/23 back with his parent club, scoring 28 Championship goals and finishing with the Golden Boot.

He becomes Town’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window and could make his debut away at Bromley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.