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Town Confirm Ward Signing Monday, 1st Aug 2016 13:33
Town have confirmed the signing of midfielder Grant Ward from Tottenham on a three-year deal with an option for a further season. TWTD was first to reveal that the Blues were set to sign the 21-year-old winger or central midfielder for a fee understood to be £500,000.
Lewisham-born Ward joined the Spurs academy - where he is likely to have worked with Town academy director Bryan Klug - as a 10-year-old but never made a senior appearance for the Premier League club, aside from during the May 2015 tour of Malaysia and Australia.
He spent time on loan with the Chicago Fire under ex-Blue Frank Yallop in 2014 and at Coventry City a year later.
Last season he made 35 starts and eight sub appearances while on loan with Rotherham in the Championship, scoring twice, one of which, a superb strike against Burnley, won the Millers' Goal of the Season gong. He also picked up their Young Player of the Year award.
Ward, who will train with his new team-mates today, is the Blues' third signing of the summer after Adam Webster and Paul Digby.
The fee is the second highest the club has paid out since Mick McCarthy took over as manager behind the £700,000 plus defender Matt Clarke handed over to secure Webster from Portsmouth in July.
Ward may not be fit enough to start on Saturday having returned to action last week after three weeks out injured.
Not been the best start to the season being out for 3 weeks but happy to be back and ready to go!! ðŸ™âš½ï¸– Grant Ward (@GrantWard_) July 28, 2016
Photo: ITFC
Photo: Action Images
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I find it unbelievable we are wasting 500k on a player that will block our own youngsters development when clearly this could be spent on 7 new strikers and a right back.
When will Mick listen to us fans that know what we're talking about?
This is a great way to start off the week. Dan Lyles thanks for your post written by Paul Davis of the South Yorkshire Times who obviously knows his footy. And perhaps another signing soon!
Good move , Young has experience of the league and does not block any of our promising youngsters . Win win all round . Good luck you will need it with some of are so called supporters.
I obviously hope it all works out but I've read nothing but doom and gloom on here for months now. I take it it's still MM out? Or has that changed for a few days because we made a signing?
Like the sound of this a lot - my only slight concern is he does have an injury so won't be ready for the first home game on Saturday. That said he is young championship experienced and clearly played an important part in Rotherhams rise from the relegation zone last season so worth a punt I reckon. It does seem like McCarthy is going to try and keep the ball on the grass for some of the time having signed another ball player. Fingers crossed.
Have to admit, I don't know much about Ward (or Webster for that matter) so I won't say much. Judging by the Rotherham fans reactions though, seems like he can play for a youngster and £500k for a young Englishman isn't much nowadays. I also like how nobody knew anything about the potential signing until earlier today and then, bosh, we've signed him. Maybe a certain team in Manchester need to adopt the same style?
Two youngsters brought in with a bit of experience can never be a bad thing!
I just want to bring to every bodies attention that Evans has spent £1.2m so far this transfer window.....Has he been kidnapped and replaced?!
Someone earlier said Spurs fans reckoned he wasn't of sufficient quality for the Prem - wouldn't they mean of sufficient quality to break into their team, one of the top 5 teams in the country?
Great news. Appreciate the odd loan is necessary, but permanent deals for promising players is certainly much better. A modest fee also opens up plenty more options and gives an edge rather than signing the likes of Toure and Coke.
Tractorboybig - spurs are top four club, with champions league football, very few youngsters will break in to that team, but many will go on and have great careers at bigger clubs than ours, or will go on to improve championship clubs. Dos - Santos was not good enough for Tottenham would we have had him? Lukaku was not good enough for Chelsea, indeed Andros Townsend not got enough for Spurs. How many players do United let go each year that go on and have great careers outside of top four clubs and even at international level. I know nothing of Ward but have read positives posts from Rotherham supporters that have seen him. We've needed a winger that is ours, he is young, football education would be good, it's positive in my humble opinion. As you say time will tell and Evans is spending money but for me Webster and Ward good hungry and young, Dozzell, Bishop effectively two new players, Sears upfront and McGoldrick fit gives better balance and for the future keen lock and Emmanuel ready to kick, Bart as number one, Smith on long contract and other youngsters I've not seen in the squad (Blanchfirld etc) I feel some optimism, I'm sure there will be results/performances to test the patience but outside of big clubs I'd settle for what's happening. Half glass full.
Have recently said that thought we needed 3 players including one that cost money,well we have him.Like most know nothing about him;but looks lean,is young and has a good shot on him.
Also said thought one freebie,which could still be Lamah;plus another on loan.
Sounds like we will be hearing of another signing soon,so wonder which of the 3 it will be Loan,Free or a further money transfer?
Much has been said about the negativity on this site;but little evidence of it on here today.I feel that Ipswich fans are no worse than any others,in fact much more patient than at most clubs.
I think the drop in season ticket sales may have had an effect,as we are now seeing more of the youngsters being included in first team squad.
We have an injection of pace in the squad,which is badly needed.
Mr Evans is now allowing his Manager to spend some money,and
The age of the squad is reducing,plus Mick is trying to play better football,or did in the friendlies.
I am having to miss Saturdays game,and another at the end of August.The first time I have missed 2 home games in a month since I married in 1967;but naturally I hope the Town play well and win as do all fans;but I wonder if cautious Mick will start with the same team as he played for most of last season.
Good news won't comment to much as there are certain posters on here who will try and ram it down your through at some stage of the season really looking forward to sat and the start of another gruelling season.
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