Bialkowski: A Massive Honour to Play for this Amazing Football Club
Monday, 16th Jul 2018 15:25 Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is delighted to have signed his new deal with the Blues and says it’s a “massive honour” to play for “this amazing football club”.
The 31-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year contract earlier today with Town having an option for a further season.
“I’m absolutely delighted, it’s been a long time, but thankfully it’s all signed and done and I’m really happy, my family’s happy and that’s the most important thing,” he told the club site.
“Honestly, it's a massive honour for me to play for this amazing football club. I'm very proud, my family is proud. I always wanted to stay and I said that so many times.”
Birmingham City made offers for the Polish international this summer, while Premier League Crystal Palace showed interest in January. However, the former Notts County and Southampton man says his head was never turned.
“Obviously everyone has got ambitions but you need to look at the bigger picture,” he reflected.
“This is a club where I feel very happy and at this moment in time I just wanted to stay here and I made it clear I wanted to sign a new long-term contract here.”
Bialkowski returned to the club following his post-World Cup break today and says he has spoken to new manager Paul Hurst on a couple of occasions: “I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Despite not featuring for Poland at the World Cup and his side being eliminated after two games, Bialkowski says he will have great memories of the tournament.
“It was amazing, everything was top drawer, the atmosphere in Russia was absolutely incredible," he added.
"It was just a shame about our results. We didn’t want to finish playing not as good as we could but obviously we’ve been knocked out from the group stages so early and unfortunately we had to come back home.
“But as an experience it was absolutely incredible. Where does it rank in my career in terms of high points? Definitely top.”
The three-times-Player-of-the-Year putting pen to paper ends six months of uncertainty regarding his future.
In January, following the interest from Palace, former manager Mick McCarthy prematurely announced that a new contract had been agreed.
However, Bialkowski later confirmed that there were still aspects of those terms to be finalised and talks were continuing, although he had every intention of remaining with the Blues.
Town expected interest in the summer and the bids from Birmingham duly arrived, however, discussions regarding the new deal - a year longer than the January terms - were already under way with only minor aspects needing to be concluded upon his return to the club.
We understand weekend reports in the national press claiming the deal is worth £20,000 a week are a significant exaggeration, although Bialkowski has received a substantial pay rise and will now be one of the club’s top earners.
Bialkowski is expected to be in the squad which travels to East Grinstead Town's East Court tomorrow to face League Two Crawley Town, but Danish international left-back Jonas Knudsen, who was also at the World Cup, has been given a further week away.
Photo: TWTD
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DombeyBlue added 15:27 - Jul 16
That is great news. |  | |
iaintaylorx added 15:27 - Jul 16
So much respect for this man. Best thing the club will do this summer and now roll on the new season! | | |
martin587 added 15:36 - Jul 16
A true professional and 100% loyal to the club.Absolutly fantastic news he has signed a lengthy contract.Will give stability to our new defence when it's in place.
Things are starting to look good. |  | |
Blue56 added 16:07 - Jul 16
Real professional and a credit to ITFC and his family! | | |
Karlosfandangal added 16:18 - Jul 16
Not yet Paul Cooper but o so very close.
What a legend so nice to see a player with loyalty and proud to play for Town.
Excellent news | | |
blueblood_soldier added 16:23 - Jul 16
This will be the best deal all summer! A fantastic player! I wouldn't stop him going if the prem teams came in, so he can have his shot at the big time but at least now we would be highly compensated if that was to happen.... great news! COYBs | | |
Currie10 added 16:28 - Jul 16
Such an honour it only took 5 months to do a 20 second job.
Pleased you've signed but your buttering up won't be making me do any cartwheels. |  | |
BotesdaleBlue added 16:31 - Jul 16
Currie10 - what a horrible thing to say about our fantastic keeper. |  | |
ArnieM added 16:34 - Jul 16
If was a massive honour then why didn't you sign your contract 6 months ago then Bart ?
Answer - Kerching ££££
At least try and be bloody honest man !!
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Pumpee1980 added 16:38 - Jul 16
With you BotesdaleBlue. So called fans like Currie10 make these comments just to get a reaction. It's positive news that should be followed by positive comments!
Nice one Bart! Officially one of the great ITFC players! |  | |
RobbieBobson added 16:40 - Jul 16
Never in doubt..... apparently! Well done Bart.... best signing of the summer! | | |
BotesdaleBlue added 16:42 - Jul 16
ArnieM. Like it or not (and I don't), money has ruined football up to a point and made it near impossible for Town to compete most of the time. The loss of our Academy players is a clear example of this.
Ok, so Bart has secured and extra year on his deal (all other elements of the contract are speculation), it is just how it is in 2018. However you view this, it is a VERY good news day for Town. If or when offers come in for him now at least we shouldn't be shafted with a cut price fee. | | |
corfu72 added 16:59 - Jul 16
Have any of you ever heard of Agents.! | | |
warwickblue added 21:55 - Jul 16
Might I just ask the moaners on here what their objection is to a professional seeking the best terms for himself and his family, in what is a short career? I'd be surprised if Birmingham had not offered terms at least as favourable as those which Bart has just accepted at Ipswich. I'm delighted that he has signed and, in my opinion, he provides superb value for money. |  | |
Cakeman added 22:06 - Jul 16
Great news and I fully respect views of everyone but surely this news has to be pleasing and should not receive negative comments.
Bart has been a model professional since he joined us and has consistently been our best player for a few seasons and thoroughly deserves his pay rise which I would imagine he will receive. |  | |
ArnieM added 22:43 - Jul 16
Botesdaleblue: I'd have more respect the player , ( any player), if they said it how it really was ie I want more money to stay and play for you or I'll go to the Club that pays me the most etc etc... instead of this usual trite shyte players roll out once they've got what they want - a lengthy and expensive contract. | | |
Bert added 22:46 - Jul 16
Loyalty is a rare commodity in football so well done to all for making this happen in a world of greed. By modern standards £15,000 plus a week is not a great football salary even in the Championship but to people on low incomes it must seem very unfair. Bart is a gent through and through and deserves great credit for thinking of his family and probably selling himself a little short in cash terms. My faith has been restored. | | |
DaGremloid added 22:48 - Jul 16
Currie10 and ArnieM - are you two idiots or do you take a day off occasionally? If you were in the same situation you wouldn't try and negotiate the best deal possible. It's not exactly a money free-for-all in the championship. You can still feel loyalty to a club/company/employer but still want to make sure you do the best for you and your family. And has it also occurred to you that with MM still in charge six months ago Bart may have been thinking 'Do I really want to stay here if MM is going to be here next season and we'll be struggling again?' Get a brain cell between you ffs. | | |
harlingblue added 00:43 - Jul 17
Brilliant news to have Bart on a new well deserved long term contract.
Well done ME for giving PH the first, very important part of his Ipswich Town plans. | | |
KiwiBlue2 added 02:31 - Jul 17
Great relief. Just need to recruit a quality centre back or two, a striker, maybe another winger and we are away.........
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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:02 - Jul 17
Some of the people on here make me laugh and yes i'm talking about you ArnieM and Currie10 Like YOU guys wouldnt want to be paid what you thought you was worth for you and your family!? Even if you played for the club as a fan and got Player of the Season for 3 years you wouldnt try and get a pay rise get a grip!!! | | |
Razor added 10:09 - Jul 17
Currie and Arnie dont be such a pair of miserable gits------with fans like you who needs enemies!!
Of course he deserves more money---he is far and away our best player and the main reason we are still in this division this year.
Or do you just want attention!? | | |
thechangingman added 10:36 - Jul 17
This is GREAT NEWS for Town - player of the year for three years says it all. Strong, dependable, consistent - what more could we want?
Bring on the new season... |  | |
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