Town have confirmed the signing of Everton forward Nathan Broadhead on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The Blues are understood to have paid £1.5 million for the 24-year-old, the highest fee under Kieran McKenna’s management and since the takeover almost two years ago.

News of Town’s interest in Broadhead, who was on loan at Wigan Athletic until being recalled on Friday, first emerged last week via the local Sunderland media, the Black Cats having also made an offer for their former loan player during this window but not one which was accepted by the Toffeemen.

The former Wales U17, U19, U20 and U21 international watched Saturday’s 4-1 FA Cup victory over Rotherham but with discussions regarding his move continuing over the weekend.

He returned to the club this afternoon to complete the formalities relating to his switch, signing a contract which runs until the summer of 2026.

“I want to help this team get promoted and score goals in the process,” Broadhead told iFollow Ipswich.

“Looking at it from the outside, it’s clear that Kieran McKenna has the team playing some really good football and that’s something that made me want to come here. Under him the team is going places and I will work hard to help.

“I’ve played at Portman Road as an opposition player [last season's 1-1 draw with Sunderland] and it was a hostile place playing for the other team — it was one of the toughest games of my career so far and was very intense. I’m looking forward to being part of it this time in front of the fans.”

McKenna added: “He really fits the profile of what we want to bring to the club and where we want to go.

“He’s a young, talented player physically and technically. He’s very gifted and fits into our playing style very well.

“He’s also at a stage of his career where he feels like it’s time to find a permanent home for his football.

“He’s come to a progressive team and a progressive club. We want to play a certain style of football and will give him opportunities to showcase what he can do.”

Broadhead, who has received two senior Wales call-ups but is yet to make his full international debut, was a youth player with hometown side Bangor City and Wrexham before joining Everton’s academy aged 10.

The 5ft 10in tall frontman has made two senior sub appearances for Everton but has spent most of the last few seasons out on loan.

In 2019/20 he was with Burton, scoring three times in 15 starts and seven sub appearances, then in 2021/22 was with Sunderland, netting 13 goals in 20 starts and seven games from the bench.

Broadhead, who will wear the Town number 33 shirt, had been due to remain with the Latics until the end of the season having scored five goals in 11 starts and 11 sub appearances.

The Blues have now made three signings during the January transfer window following the loan addition of Hirst yesterday and Massimo Luongo’s return on a short-term deal at the end of last week.

Photo: ITFC

blues1 added 14:16 - Jan 10 Hopefulblue69. Dont get what urctryingcto say. We're still interested in signing Whittaker, so why would swansea think they'd made a mistake?
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blues1 added 14:21 - Jan 10 Nomore4. Think we may still go for whittaker but in order to do so, we'd gave to remove Camara from the 22 man squad. So unless there's anyone else they would drop out of that squad, we could then only sign players under the age of 21. So Mcguinness not an option anyway. And apart from that, he was average last time he was here, so why we'd want him back, I really dont know.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 14:24 - Jan 10 I can't remember the last time we actually strengthened our squad in the January window. I do remember us not doing it when we were rocking the Championship and ended up missing out. I love the difference.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:50 - Jan 10 Jamal Lowe ?
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Nomore4 added 15:06 - Jan 10 Average Blues1? Yes if you say so….not been average since though. Removing Ball rather than Camara, as hopefully he has a chance this season still. Although I do see departure of 1 or 2.
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Nomore4 added 15:12 - Jan 10 Still think the big signing is yet to arrive Hopefully 2 big signings…..Wittacker and Mcguiness. But even if that doesn't happen, our 2 main rivals have lost there stand out performers and bean weakened.
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blueboy1981 added 15:34 - Jan 10 Whittaker next ? - What a Statement of Intent that would be from the Owners … !!!
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Safetyfirstmrwark added 15:56 - Jan 10 Hats off to Ashton and the owners. Still trying to stay grounded but this is another sign of the most promising period in ITFC history for many a long year
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blues1 added 16:14 - Jan 10 Nomore4. Weve already got to take ball out of the 22 man squad, to fit in the 3 weve signed so far, as only had 2 spaces available. Therefore, in order to sign Whittaker or 1 other, we'd have to remove another, thus,why I suggested Camara. So unless we were then to further remove yet another, we could only sign some1 under 21.
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Bert added 16:17 - Jan 10 A very shrewd permanent signing but let's give the lad time to bed in. Would not be surprised if we start with Freddie up front with the two new lads on the bench ready to come on and startle the Plymouth defence. As for Whittaker, if he is still a player of interest, and that's a big if, cannot see any decision until after the Plymouth game for reasons of integrity which ITFC has in abundance.

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Ipswichbusiness added 16:51 - Jan 10 Blues1: please remember that when McGuinness came to us he was 19 years old and playing his first senior football. I hope that he has developed over the last couple of years.
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blues1 added 17:31 - Jan 10 Ipswichbusiness. Maybe, but facfche was,sent out on loan to lge1 again, this time not by arsenal but by azpretty average cardiff team right now, doesn't suggest to me hes improved greatly. And where would he play anyway? Don't see that we could drop any of the 3 cbs playing right now. Tho maybe would be better cover than we have right now. But as I say, unless,we' re gonna leave some1 else out of our 22 man squad we can't sign him anyway.

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blues1 added 17:31 - Jan 10 Ipswichbusiness. Maybe, but facfche was,sent out on loan to lge1 again, this time not by arsenal but by azpretty average cardiff team right now, doesn't suggest to me hes improved greatly. And where would he play anyway? Don't see that we could drop any of the 3 cbs playing right now. Tho maybe would be better cover than we have right now. But as I say, unless,we' re gonna leave some1 else out of our 22 man squad we can't sign him anyway.

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dieselmorris added 19:00 - Jan 10 been a whole day and we haven't signed anyone, very disappointed in the club.
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Nobbysnuts added 19:08 - Jan 10 Sunderland fans saying his injury record is appalling and glad they didn't sign him........
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hyperbrit added 19:16 - Jan 10 not to sound too ungrateful but does Keogh have much of a future with the club?
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bluesince76 added 19:22 - Jan 10 Love the way our club is being run now what a change from those awful years under Evans great signings this club is only going one way now.
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Nomore4 added 19:31 - Jan 10 Nobby I've read he's yet to play more than 50 mins in any appearance this season.
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Nomore4 added 19:48 - Jan 10 All 3 signings I think are total quality players. But all 3 have played little football this season because of injuries or poor form.
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blues1 added 19:59 - Jan 10 Nomore4. So, Sunderland fans who are clearly miffed he didnt go there talk rubbish about him and uvtakexitcas gopel?. It's typical of fans of all clubs, when a player theyd have liked goes elsewhere, they run him down. Even if he hadnt played more than 50 minutes in any game, that wouldnt mean he necessarily was injured, does it ? But thats rubbish anyway. I've looked at just a few of wigans games in which hes started, and he came off on 86 mins, 76, mins, and 81 mins.

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Nomore4 added 20:19 - Jan 10 Blues 1 you've said we can't sign Whittaker unless we remove. He qualifies as under age.
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Ipswichbusiness added 20:25 - Jan 10 Hyperbrit; Keogh was signed last summer on a one-year deal. With Baggott coming back from loan in the summer, I doubt whether he will be given a new playing contract, but a coaching role is quite possible.
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blues1 added 20:29 - Jan 10 Nomore4. Whittaker is 22, so yes, he does count as part of the squad.
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barrystedmunds added 20:34 - Jan 10 Malcolmmeatballhead, Your mention of Alex Mathie contours up memory's. A great player for us but not held in such high esteem at Dundee United. I was joining the local fire brigade and the doctor carrying out the medical was United's doctor. I turned up with my Town top on so the conversation naturally turned to Mathie who they signed for three quarters of a million which was a major outlay at the time. By all accounts he was despised in the dressing room for his “big time Charlie” attitude. Allegedly!

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Nomore4 added 20:35 - Jan 10 Blues1 Whittaker was 21 on 1st Jan the cut off point. He doesn't count as part of the squad.
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