Town have confirmed the signing of Tottenham midfielder Massimo Luongo on a season-long loan. As reported earlier, the 19-year-old was at Portman Road this afternoon to complete the paperwork on the switch and to look around the ground.

Luongo, who TWTD was first to reveal was being targeted by the Blues a fortnight ago, told the club site: "Joining Ipswich on loan is a great opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to challenging for a first-team place here.”

He later added on Twitter: "Happy to have things sorted at Ipswich. It should be a good experience for me at this great club. Looking forward to it!"

The holding midfielder will train with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday and could be in the squad for Wednesday's friendly at Cambridge United.

Sydney-born Luongo joined Spurs in January 2011 after impressing while on trial, where he trained under Blues new academy director Bryan Klug, having previously played for APIA Leichhardt Tigers in his homeland.

He made nine appearances for their U18s in the 2010/11 season scoring three goals from central midfield, including one in a final day 2-1 defeat of Town’s youngsters.

By the beginning of last season he had impressed enough to make his senior debut — and miss the decisive spotkick in a shoot-out — as a 71st minute sub in a Carling Cup tie with Stoke. That remains his only first team appearance.

Capped twice by Australia at U20 level and called into senior training camps, 5ft 9½in tall Luongo also qualifies to play for Italy, the nation of his father's birth, and Indonesia, where his mother was born.

Photos: Action Images/ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Pique added 18:56 - Jul 23 Phil, the EADT is reporting that the deal could potentially end in January - is that right?
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clive_baker added 19:01 - Jul 23 Welcome to Ipswich lad. Scored 3 in 9 for Spuds yoofs last season, not a bad return for a 'holding midfielder'. Obviously got an eye for goal too. A young Tim Cahill maybe? Got to say i've been disappointed at how we've previously loaned players and not used them enough (Livermore, Townsend, Wabara etc), I hope this lad is given a chance to impress. If it doesn't work then fine, but at least we'll know. Still maintain Livermore and Townsend were better options than some of the dross RK favoured time and again. Good luck and COYB!!

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AndyUK61873 added 19:03 - Jul 23 @shoopdelang & pique: Only issue I have with FM (awesome game for sure), I can get town promoted typically without the need of the playoffs, but then I get given zero money to get to the next step in the premier league and the team takes a pounding week in week out....hope that does not translate to real life
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Pique added 19:10 - Jul 23 clive_baker: Agreed. Townsend in particular was flying when Keane dropped him for no apparent reason. Maybe he looked at him in a funny way.
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SheffieldBlue1 added 19:16 - Jul 23 Hopefully he will be more a creative force in central midfield than this article suggests, as if he is more defensive minded he sounds very similar to Hyam, and it would be a shame to curtail his progress. Only time will tell though and I welcome this signing! Very confused by the amount of bile being spouted on here from people against this signing, surely just putrid rubbish from deluded fans. This signing seems about the right sort of pedigree due to our current situation, I.e. Mid-table championship club. Get behind the club, instead of criticising every development.

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TimmyH added 19:56 - Jul 23 yet again 'Never heard of him'...but all the best!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:04 - Jul 23 Hope i,m proved wrong but this loan deal is not what we need right now, however, good luck young man.
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Talbs77 added 20:14 - Jul 23 Disapointed we are getting loans in however, I am glad the loans are for a younger player like this lad. However I see no point if he plays, thus developing him for Spurs for the future, to the detriment of Hyam of Carson who dont get a look in. Hyam and Carson need games in a town shirt to get better.
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runaround added 20:37 - Jul 23 Welcome Massimo
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Langdon_Blue added 20:40 - Jul 23 Welcome to Ipswich, Luongo! This signing would appear to be strengthening our squad for 2012-13, let's be optimistic that he is a success, which would be good for us, for him, and for Spurs....in that order. Plenty of time to judge him the loan decision, once he has actually kicked a ball for us...
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BerlinBlue added 21:28 - Jul 23 The fact he's pretty much unknown makes him exciting in my book. What can we expect? Glad he's here.
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buryblue77 added 21:33 - Jul 23 Oh dear......People, give him a chance. I really do feel PJ is building a good squad of players here and Massimo could we be better than who we could buy, so please stop the moaning. COYB!!!
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bluey420 added 21:49 - Jul 23 The fact Massimo has signed a new contract means knowing just gives spurs more money if the loan is successful for us 2 sign him permanently: be interesting if we continue with 4-3-3 who the middle 3 will b we have a far few options: I'd still like another GK n CB n then a forward or 2 then I believe we can challenge for a top half finish see how we are doing at Xmas if we cab challenge top 6 I've been delighted with are dealings not bothered missing out on Kusuzak or Ward: 2/3 more good signing n hopefully we can have a better season COYB!!!

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Daleyitfc added 22:20 - Jul 23 "Doom and gloom idiots" presumably being those of us 'idiotic' enough to NOT predict promotion to the Premier League last year ; or the year before ; or the year before that ; etc. i.e. those of us who understand what is good, and bad, for the club, and know that none of the former has occurred for a decade.
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One_Matty_Holland added 22:48 - Jul 23 Don't see how people can say its a poor signing before he's even kicked a ball, give the lad a chance. The argument that we should be developing our younger players not other teams is ridiculous, they may not be good enough. We may not sign him after the loan but bringing in players that Jewell thinks are better than what we've got can only benefit the team. No one complained about Gio and he was a relatively unknown quantity when he arrived.

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Ipswichbusiness added 22:48 - Jul 23 I don't know anything about this lad, but if he is young and talented then let's all welcome him to the club. What has happened to Kourouma? He was also supposed to be a young and talented midfielder. I had some doubts about him as he was only aged 19 and on his third club already. I presume (hope) that that deal is dead.
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Garv added 00:40 - Jul 24 Maybe some competition is what Hyam needs to give him a bit of a push. Havn't heard a bad word said about this kid yet - likes to put a foot in, good engine, likes the holding role. Very promising. And to have him for a whole season is fantastic.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:05 - Jul 24 Daley..... i saw a sign on a pub wall, it read and i quote, " those of YOU who think you know everything, are annoying to those who do know everything",.. there you go, your reputation goes b4 you....Muppet. The scum were promoted using a young midfielder from Arsenal, similar age and experience, Lansbury..... Lets see how things pan out b4 we have a moan.....COYB
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irishtim added 08:12 - Jul 24 Hopefully he will ba a success. Lets give him a chance.
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cookra added 08:18 - Jul 24 Great engine on this lad, young and Enthusiastic. Surely he's got to be better than old lead boots? Lets keep them coming PJ
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Langdon_Blue added 08:21 - Jul 24 Last years Player of the Year, was an unknown young player. The year before it was awarded to a Loanee...on that basis, why would anyone question us signing a young unknown, loanee for the season????
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brian_a_mul added 08:36 - Jul 24 Ha thats a great point Langdon_Blue. Hyam will get plenty of game time, dont worry. Its a long hard season and its a squad game. Plus we have more players allowed on the bench so we need more options. With Bowyer, Leadbitter and Murphs having left our midfield we do really do need some extra numbers in there. Koruouma will sign but I dont think he will be challanging for a first team spot for a while, one for the future. Lets hope Luongo can do well and enjoy his time here.

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Surco72 added 08:43 - Jul 24 Well said Langdon also didnt Colbaek win an award with us ? Another young loanee !! But too answer your question people will moan because they have nothing else to do but criticise others it makes them feel better about their shallow lives without ever seeing the young man play . Could be the next Gattuso over the season !!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:14 - Jul 24 We would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we didn't use the loan option at all. Surely the point is that we don't OVERuse it? I don't think that's the case so far. Welcome to ITFC, Massimo!
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Scribble added 09:48 - Jul 24 @one marty holland Gio had played in Barcelonas first team the season before he was with us (more than once as well before you say about massimos 1 senior spurs appearance) so I don't think he was that unknown
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