Town have announced the re-signing of striker Will Keane on a one-year contract with an option of a further season.

Keane initially moved to Portman Road on loan from Hull City in January and scored three goals in nine starts and two sub appearances but spent much of his time in Suffolk on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old was subsequently released by the Tigers in May and has spent the summer getting over the injury.

Stockport-born Keane came through the ranks at Manchester United where he made two sub appearances in the Premier League and spent spells out on loan at Wigan, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston.

In August 2016, Hull paid the Red Devils a reported £1.02 million for 6ft 2in tall Keane, who has been capped by England at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels, but who switched international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland earlier in the year.

A serious knee ligament injury - the second of his career, he previously missed the whole of the 2012/13 campaign - saw him sidelined for more than a year of football with the Tigers and he made only 11 starts and 15 sub appearances, scoring once, for the East Yorkshiremen.

Keane said in January that he would be keen on joining the Blues on a longer-term basis.

“Would a permanent move to Ipswich appeal, even if it meant League One football? Yes, definitely," he said.

"I’ve been really impressed by the size of the club and all the facilities — training ground and stadium — as well as the fans. You can see it’s a great set-up and something I’ve really enjoyed being a part of so far."

The striker could be Town's final signing of the summer with manager Paul Lambert having targeted three additions before the window closes on September 2nd.

Keane joins right-back Kane Vincent-Young and loanee left winger Anthony Georgiou, who signed yesterday.

Photo: TWTD

Westy added 15:04 - Aug 20 Good news. I rated Will Keane. He popped up with some important goals - sadly not enough to keep us up but could get a useful tally in League One.
1

LegendofthePhoenix added 15:05 - Aug 20 Brilliant - exactly what we need alongside Norwood. THIS is the last piece in the jigsaw.
3

Nazemariner added 15:07 - Aug 20 A fit will Keane can lead us to the League 1 title.
4

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:12 - Aug 20 Fantastic signing if he stays fit gives us options and the opposition problems for me would be the perfect foil for Norwood or sears when fit.
1

Suffolkboy added 15:15 - Aug 20 Every essential point has been covered here , but we do think WK has a sense of positioning and movement which comes naturally and all the others can learn from him .IF Sears gets fit , Norwood continues his eagerness to score and learn , and if Jackson develops too , then our strike force should be quite potent ,especially in L 1 . COYB
4

SamWhiteUK added 15:20 - Aug 20 This could be a great signing. We need a big man up top, not unlike that Toney for P'boro. He was a decent player.
0

BlueySwede added 15:25 - Aug 20 More happy than I thought I would be with this signing. Gives us something different up front. Welcome back!
1

Cookycrew added 15:26 - Aug 20 Sorry, not for me. In League 1 we need a MONSTER target man up front with true physical presence, a different type of striker. WK is far too lightweight and gets brushed off the ball far too easily. He is also injury prone & his goal ratio not great. He had his chance to shine with us in the Championship, he simply didn't deliver then (even before the Hamstring injury)- we should as a club have moved on to other striker options.

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Bert added 15:27 - Aug 20 Excellent. Good target man when we have to go route one and gives us options. Keane is an intelligent player and will fit in nicely to give us a decent strike force when everything clicks.
2

cornishblu added 15:32 - Aug 20 Still remaining v positive ....now PL has got his three signings....needs for us to now get back to where we belong ....its yr team now Paul....lets have performances on tne pitch that refelct the marvellous work you have done with the supporters Onward and upward COYB
1

herfie added 15:33 - Aug 20 Potentially very good signing, on sensible initial contract terms. Welcome back WK, and good luck for a successful second term here. His signing, together with PL's recent additions and eventual return to full fitness of the others, puts a different and positive complexion on the squad overall. Hopefully the positive benefits will follow. COYB!
2

Murphys_Law added 15:38 - Aug 20 The bottom line is that we couldn't afford a fully fit and firing WK, he's a quality addition to our squad and should be a class apart at this level with his football brain and movement. Here's hoping he stays fit as him, Norwood, Jackson and Sears is some four to choose from!
4

Walk_the_Wark added 15:39 - Aug 20 Why?
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Saxonblue74 added 15:39 - Aug 20 Love this! I was hoping he'd return as I thought he was really coming into form prior to his injury. Get him up to speed and he'll be perfect with Norwood. This is really beginning to shape up nicely! Well done again PL! Patience is a virtue people!😁
3

mojo added 15:45 - Aug 20 Gwion wasn't wrong was he. 3 very quick signings in a little over 24 hours. As others have said PL has got his 3 signings that he wanted now.
3

thorpie added 15:47 - Aug 20 Best ST from last season, had a big presence about him and personally think he was underrated by a large amount of our fans e.g. off the ball work and the hold up play. Looking forward to see him and Norwood bang in 20+ each :)
1

mathiemagic added 15:51 - Aug 20 I wish him well as I would any Town signing but i cant help feel this is a slight panic (no one else available) kind of signing. I hope he does well but fear he will spend more time on the physio bench than the pitch (Prove me wrong please !!)
0

runaround added 15:55 - Aug 20 Potentially an excellent signing at this level, exactly the type of striker we don't have in the squad, knows the players & is happy to be here. The only negative is his injury record but if we can get 25-30 games out of him this season it could make a massive difference. Welcome back Keano
2

Bergholtblue added 15:55 - Aug 20 Casanovacrow & LBT57 - What on earth makes you think that ME forks out on scouts? I think it obvious that we haven't had any of these for years.
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inghamspur added 16:05 - Aug 20 I was Keane on him when he played last season & eager to see him in a blue shirt again.
0

warktheline added 16:07 - Aug 20 Same old! IF this, IF that! Lambert being sent down the same path as McCarthy....unfortunately the lads career has been littered with injuries , totally counterproductive long time for the club! And still they ‘clap', unreal!!!!!!!
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pazzy added 16:13 - Aug 20 if he stays fit he is class runs the channels well a class act should realy help norwood and jackson
3

Bluearmy_81 added 16:14 - Aug 20 Great news. He'll tear up league 1 if he can stay fit
5

RegencyBlue added 16:18 - Aug 20 All about the fitness as others have said. Keep him fit and at this level he will score goals. Thought he was coming into form last season just as he got injured so hopeful on this one.
2

BettyBlue added 16:32 - Aug 20 Still signing injury prone players.....
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