Midfielder Adam McDonnell has joined his former loan side Aldershot on a permanent basis, signing a deal which runs until the summer of 2019.

McDonnell, 20, was well down the pecking order at Town with his contract up at the end of the season.

“Being here has made me a better player and will help me fulfil my potential,” McDonnell told Aldershot's official site.

“[Manager] Gary Waddock and [his assistant] James Rowe have put a lot of trust in me, and with the way that we play I’d be stupid not to come back here.

“I wasn’t being promised the game time that I needed at Ipswich Town to make me a better player, so sometimes you have to come down to go back up. At this club, that will definitely make me a better player.

We are delighted that midfielder Adam McDonnell has rejoined Aldershot Town on a permanent deal from @Official_ITFC until the end of the 2018-19 season.

Welcome back @AdamMcDonnell97!https://t.co/R5ZdTul0xY pic.twitter.com/4j9LnIouT1– Aldershot Town FC (@OfficialShots) January 26, 2018

“Everything about the club has been brilliant for me. The players made me fit in from minute one, the staff, the fans, and obviously I love playing at the EBB Stadium.”

The Dubliner joined the Blues from hometown club Shelbourne in August 2014 following a trial and went on to make one start and one sub appearance in the Championship as well as two starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup.

Also like to thank everyone involved at Ipswich. Made me feel welcome from minute one when moved over as 17 year old and had great 3 and half years at the club. It’s been a pleasure & All the best for the rest of the season👍🏼🔵 @Official_ITFC

— adam mc donnell (@AdamMcDonnell97) January 26, 2018

Former Irish U18 international McDonnell enjoyed a very successful loan spell with the Vanarama National League Shots before Christmas - making 19 appearances and scoring three goals - before being recalled by Town as cover with several central midfielders injured. He was on the bench on a number of occasions but without making it on to the field.

Photo: TWTD

12th_Man added 10:23 - Jan 26 Why wasn't he given a chance
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Cookycrew added 10:24 - Jan 26 Frustrating that we didn't see more of him in a Town shirt. But it makes perfect sense for the lad to try & get regular football and hopefully that he can move back up the levels. IMO, based on seeing him in the U23's last year, that he will have a good career.
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IamSpartacus added 10:26 - Jan 26 Cue posts by people that have never seen him play more than a couple of times, if ever, how he should stay and how we are getting rid of talent.
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Jimmy86 added 10:30 - Jan 26 Mick's record in the transfer market have not been great. Remember him waxing lyrical about McDonnell and was angered by the red tape that held up his registration. He never even got a look in. Mick has not been backed financially by Evans and that has been obvious, this has led to Mick scouring the bargain bucket and has resulted in several punts that have failed to come off. These punts have still resulted in wages being paid, all be it fairly low.

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BlueNomad added 10:35 - Jan 26 12th Man - Perhaps because he hasn't come on in the waDownes and Nydam have?
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positivity added 10:39 - Jan 26 jimmy86, if you come up with the odd kieffer moore or tyrone mings that pays for loads of mcodonnells, drinans and gotenis... i'd have liked to see him stay for the season with no dozzell, bish, huws available, but unfair on the player to be stockpiled just in case. hope we got a sell-on percentage, wouldn't write off his chances yet...
4

Kesgraveblue57 added 10:39 - Jan 26 I really hope we live to regret this move the lad was never given the chance
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Surco72 added 10:45 - Jan 26 Young Irish lad raved about before signing never plays then disappears ...and repeat Where does he rank in MM's 80 signings at Ipswich ?
3

BartonBluee added 11:00 - Jan 26 If you look at every other C'ship/L1/L2 team this will be common practice, young players move around constantly, some come back to haunt you, and some don't. As mentioned above if the lad had come on, with the likes of Dozzell, Nydam, Downes, he would have definitely have featured more. I think it's pretty unrealistic to think every single youth product will go on to be a first team regular.

5

Dalty added 11:04 - Jan 26 Jimmy86 - While he deserves criticism for other aspects of his management, one area where MM is firmly in credit is in the transfer market. With one of the lowest budgets in the division, he's done well to acquire players of the calibre of Bart/McG/Waghorn/Skuse/Mings etc for little money (free in many cases). While I like what I've seen of McDonnell & agree with positivity's post about wanting him to have stayed for the rest of the season, with Downes/Nydam/Dozzell all younger than him & ahead of him in the pecking order when fit it makes sense for him to move on.

13

runningout added 11:23 - Jan 26 half of recent transfers haven't been brill
1

Rensham added 11:26 - Jan 26 Has Big Mick ever developed a young player? What is the point of the Academy. Might as well close it down if no-one ever makes it through to the first team. After all 7 loanees says we don't need them. You're spoiling us Marcus.
0

TractorWood added 11:28 - Jan 26 Remember MM complaining that he couldn't play this lad until he was 18 under some UEFA rule. 3 years later he's barely had a kick. Good luck to him but not convinced he's been given fair crack.
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Rensham added 11:29 - Jan 26 Either the youngsters In the Academy/U23 are rubbish and we need new scouts. Or the people running those teams need to be sacked.
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Rensham added 11:29 - Jan 26 Or sack Big Mouth Mick now.
5

TimmyH added 11:31 - Jan 26 A little worrying that McCarthy is making decisions to 'off load' our younger players if* he is leaving at the end of the season which is only just over 3 months away. Surely if leaving in May he would have left it for the future manager to make this decision or is it me being paranoid?
3

LondonBlue73 added 11:37 - Jan 26 I would say MM plays poor football and is belligerent and driving fans away, though I support the club not the managers will stay behind the team. One thing people have to stop going on about though is his transfer policy and development of youth players. He has picked Bishop whenever fit and put him on a pedestal, he has developed in to the first team the likes of Downs, Nydham, Kenlock (to a lesser extent), Dozzell, Emmanuel. Those that say Emmanuel should have played more forget conveniently he is not setting the world alight at Rotherham. Jason Dozzell went on record stating he is more than happy with Andre's development at Ipswich - he knows more than the fans. Moore & Mings great business, Skuse, Bart, Webster, Waghorn, Garner, Hows all great signings. Loan players where premier league managers trust him such as Williams, Celina, Lawrence, Frazer all great. Lets be realistic he deals well, what he does with them is not what we want but when you have a budget to shop in Poundland some things will; break (injuries) and some will not work out. Far better than the days of Paul Taylor, Leadbitter to name a few.

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TonyHumesIpswich added 11:38 - Jan 26 Seems a strange one, no transfer fee and we haven't exactly got a fully fit squad.
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Rensham added 11:49 - Jan 26 Why didn't we give McDonnell a go instead of Gleason? What is the point of signing for ITFC as a youngster? You wait for your opportunity and instead Big Mouth Mick signs a loanee or gives a squad place to someone after a 60 min trial. Shocking. How about kicking out McCarthy and give ourselves a bit of time to sort out the mess that is ITFC???
3

Rensham added 11:50 - Jan 26 Why don't we do transfer fees anymore? Is it a tax dodge?
2

BrettenhamBlue added 11:55 - Jan 26 Know it's good for the player BUT aren't we about to lose McGoldrick too? Surely that would give opportunities for players like McDonnell?
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oldegold added 12:02 - Jan 26 One of the very few times I agree with Rensham...we have a vaunted youth academy section which is never utilized by our manager. Sine Nov 2012, not one player from the ranks has made a mark, leaving aside Bishop, who has disapperead off the radar through injury and for other reasons never fully explained by the club. We had 5 loanees last week and not one academy player. Under McCarthy they get played in cup matches and used to cover up his disliking for cthese matches and then they promptly vanish...where have all the young players got to? Sir Bobby, Joe and George were never afriad to give them not only a chance but make them feel that they are the lifeblood of Ipswich. Under our present incumbent, we might as well close it down given his dismal record and antipathy towards young players.

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Ipswichbusiness added 12:03 - Jan 26 An injury crisis in midfield, McG likely to go elsewhere, so we sign a "proper bloke" on a free for the rest of the season and let a youngster go; all too typical of the way this club is being run.
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vanmunt added 12:11 - Jan 26 Muck scuttling the ship for when he leaves.
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brittaniaman added 12:15 - Jan 26 Dino still having a clear out then ???? Good or Bad we do not know. Could McDonnell turn out to be another Connor Houriane ????
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