Ipswich Town has had a fantastic season in the Championship.
The Tractor Boys were promoted from League One last season, and they have effortlessly transitioned to the second division, spending much of the season in and around the automatic promotion spots.
It will be a nervous few weeks for Ipswich as they attempt to re-enter the Premier League, but regardless of the season’s fate, the club has had a great year.
The Tractor Boys’ achievements are even more astounding when you realize that manager Kieran McKenna has mostly kept the same core of players that won promotion last season, with 11 new players arriving throughout the season to give depth and quality to the squad.
Regardless of the tier Ipswich is in next season, McKenna will be looking to bolster his squad in the summer, but there may also be some exits from the club.
With that in mind, we investigated which players would be willing to depart Portman Road.
Christian Walton
Goalkeeper Walton joined Ipswich on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2021, making the transfer permanent in January 2022.
Walton played a key role in the club’s promotion from League One last season, keeping 24 clean sheets in 47 appearances across all competitions, and his efforts were noticed, with Premier League side Luton Town reportedly interested in signing him in the summer.
The 28-year-old stayed in Suffolk, but he missed the start of the season due to a foot injury, and although regaining fitness in October, he has been unable to reclaim his place from Vaclav Hladky.
After a year on the bench, Walton will be keen to play regular football, and there should be plenty of interest in a goalkeeper of his calibre.
Walton is out of contract in the summer, and while he may be given a new deal with Hladky’s future uncertain, he is likely to refuse any offering unless he is certain that he will be first choice.
Janoi Donacien
Donacien, a defender, joined Ipswich on loan from Accrington Stanley in August 2018 and made the move permanent in January 2019.
Donacien was a regular for the Tractor Boys in the first half of last season, but he lost his spot when Harry Clarke arrived from Arsenal in January, and he has dropped lower down the pecking order this season.
The 30-year-old has been troubled by injuries, but with Clarke, Brandon Williams, and Axel Tuanzebe having played ahead of him at right-back, it appears that his days at Portman Road are numbered.
McKenna praised Donacien as “a very important player since the day I arrived” in August, but with his contract ending in the summer, it appears doubtful that he will be offered an extension, and the defender may be eager to go on and restart his career.
Dominic Ball
Ball joined Portman Road from Queens Park Rangers in June 2022, and after a successful season with the R’s in the Championship, he appeared to be a wise choice.
However, Ball missed much of last season due to a knee injury, and his minutes have been extremely limited since regaining fitness.
This season, Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, and Jack Taylor have all been chosen above Ball, and McKenna’s decision to recruit Lewis Travis on loan from Blackburn Rovers in January implies that Ball is not in his long-term plans.
Ball, like Donacien, has a contract that ends in the summer, and his departure would be the best option for all parties.
Cameron Humphreys
Humphreys is another midfielder who has seen limited minutes at Ipswich this season.
The 20-year-old came through the club’s system and had an impressive breakthrough season last season, scoring three goals and assisting twice in 26 games across all competitions as the Tractor Boys achieved promotion.
Humphreys is a talented player, but with so much competition for midfield spots right now, it appears unlikely that he will play regularly next season, especially if Ipswich make the Premier League.
McKenna would be hesitant to allow Humphreys’ permanent departure, but a loan move may be useful at this point in his career, and the midfielder will be eager to show his manager what he can do.
Freddie Ladapo
Ladapo, a striker, joined Ipswich from Rotherham United in July 2022, and he helped the team win promotion last season by scoring 21 goals and providing two assists in 53 games across all competitions.
However, with the arrivals of George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead last January, Ladapo’s playing time was reduced, and he found himself on the bench once more this season.
Ladapo was a crucial member of the Tractor Boys’ squad throughout the first half of the season, scoring four goals in 22 appearances, but he was loaned out to League One club Charlton Athletic in January.
The 31-year-old has struggled to make an impact at The Valley thus far, and it appears unlikely that he will be part of McKenna’s plans when he returns to Suffolk.
Ladapo is under contract at Portman Road until 2025, but he may be looking to go permanently this summer, and despite his disappointing time at Charlton, he should garner plenty of interest from third-tier clubs.
Gassan Ahadme
Striker Ahadme appeared to be an exciting signing for Ipswich when he joined from Burton Albion in September 2022, but his time at Portman Road has not gone as planned.
Ahadme scored once in eight games for the Tractor Boys during the first half of last season before being loaned back to Burton in January.
The 23-year-old made another temporary move in the summer, this time to Cambridge United, where he has impressed this season.
That is unlikely to be enough to get him into the Ipswich lineup, but his performance will have caught the attention of other clubs, and he might be a League One target this summer.
Ahadme is under contract at Ipswich until 2025, and he could be viewed as one for the future, but the Spaniard may be keen to draw a line under what has been a disappointing time in Suffolk.
