Town have completed the signing of striker Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee understood to be just over £1 million plus further add-ons, the 21-year-old penning a deal which runs to the summer of 2028.

Al-Hamadi, who has been handed the number 16 shirt, will join up with the squad later this week having been away with Iraq at the Asian Cup but with his side eliminated following a 3-2 defeat to Jordan earlier today.

“Ipswich is a club on an upward trajectory, with a manager who is known for developing players, so at this point in my career I feel like I am ready to make the step up and this feels like the perfect fit for me,” he told TownTV. 

“Everyone I have spoken to has given the club unbelievable reviews so I’m just excited to get to work when I get back.

“Whenever I’ve watched Ipswich it’s attractive football with high intensity and energy, which fits my characteristics well, so I’d say I’m a good fit.

“I am hungry to score goals and understand it’s a step up to the Championship where players are better and sharper, but I’m confident in my ability, I am hungry to learn and am looking forward to joining up with the squad.” 

Manager Kieran McKenna added: “Ali is a very exciting young striker who we feel has great attributes and a lot of room to continue to develop.

“He’s had a really good first 12 months of regular senior football and has had a significant impact at AFC Wimbledon. He fits our recruitment profile of being a young, hungry, athletic and technical player who we feel can have an impact in the squad straight away, but also has room to grow and develop for the future.”

As reported on Saturday, a number of other clubs showed interest in Al-Hamadi after news of Town’s approach emerged at the end of last week, but we understand none matched the Blues’ offer with the player in any case very keen on the switch to Portman Road.

The striker joined the Dons on a free transfer from Wycombe Wanderers in January last year with the Chairboys understood to be due 25 per cent of the fee from the move to Town.

Al-Hamadi was born in Iraq but moved to Liverpool in 2003 as a one-year-old during the Iraq War.

Having been a youth player with Tranmere and Swansea, the 6ft 2in tall frontman joined Wycombe in 2021 following a trial but made his first senior appearances during a loan spell in the National League with Bromley.

Having been a regular for the Chairboys in League One throughout 2021/22 and in the first half of the following season, Al-Hamadi, who has been capped 12 times by Iraq, scoring three goals, moved on to Wimbledon in League Two on a free transfer in January 2023.

He scored 27 goals in 40 starts and eight sub appearances for the Wombles, including 17 this season.

Town are continuing to pursue Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher with a deal looking more likely than it did a few days ago. As reported over the weekend, Rovers are showing interest in Swansea's Jerry Yates and that move could allow Gallagher to join the Blues should the clubs agree a fee.

Photo: ITFC

PhuketPete added 18:14 - Jan 29 @leagueonescum well spotted re the hotel room photo.. but … Bangladesh ?? :-)
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SussexTractor added 18:26 - Jan 29 Ali ba-brilliant and the 40 goals please
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blue86 added 18:29 - Jan 29 Nice! Good luck, big step up but let's hope he is a hidden gem! Coyb
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blues1 added 18:37 - Jan 29 Timmyh. For 1 Piggott didn't get enough game time to show what he could do. Even Cook later apologised for not giving him enough time. Bit eve apart from that, just bcse he didn't do it doesn't mean this guy wont. Would hardly be the 1st player from lower lges to have performed after a higher level. Vardy the perfect example. Mings for us? David Jojnson came to us from bury.think hexdid pretty well. Dont you? Go back some years, to name but 2, Keegan, Platt.

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MVBlue added 19:06 - Jan 29 @blues1 The Maidstone keeper might be another example .. surely he will move up
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Pilgrimblue added 19:08 - Jan 29 At the moment I’m underwhelmed. He hasn’t got experience at Championship level and I’m wondering if he’s just going to be same Adhame. What does he offer! Is he quicker than Freddie(hope so) Can he head the ball? Is he two footed? What’s his control like or is he just kick and run. We need established players either Prem reserves or experienced players.
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blues1 added 19:23 - Jan 29 Pilgrimage. Did davidzJojnsom have any championship experience when he came here from Bury. Did Vardy have any when he moved up? Did keegan have any top flight experience when he joined Liverpool from Scunthorpe? Or Platt when he moved up? Why do fans assume just bcse a 1player comes from a lower lge team, he won't be good enough? Wouldn't mind betting neither, that many of those who are doubting this move, were all out for for signing Macauley Langstaff from Notts County. Who is playing in his 1st season in the football lge, based on what he did in the conference last season.

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blues1 added 19:25 - Jan 29 IpswichT62oldboy. Not looking like Gallagher gonna be coming. He's playing for Blackburn tonight.
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Westy added 19:26 - Jan 29 There are articles on uTube uploaded Wimbledon fans lamenting his departure so he must have something about him - old enough to have experience and young enough to still improve. Avoiding serious injury, he has 15 more years in the game. I'm very keen to see what he can do.
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ThaiBlue added 19:48 - Jan 29 Think this guy will do very well for us quick strong and shoots.bet he gets double figures before the end of the season
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Linkboy13 added 19:52 - Jan 29 Whether he plays on Saturday will depend on how he performs in training games that are very high intensity that might take time to get adjusted to. Im not going to judge the lad even before he's put a Town shirt on I'll leave that to the numpties on here. But the fact that he's played international football against some decent opposition will hold him in good stead.
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FreddySteady added 20:21 - Jan 29 Gallagher has scored for Blackburn tonight
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del45 added 20:45 - Jan 29 That means we now need that second striker ??
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Gforce added 20:46 - Jan 29 On a side note,Burton have just released Cole Stockton to Barrow on loan. I remember not so long ago several fans on here,wanting us to sign him,he's gone backwards ever since.
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david_d added 21:17 - Jan 29 This is great news. I’m told by a friend who is a Wimbledon ST holder that he’s a good footballer whose main asset is his speed. He was popular with the fans. Interesting fact is that although a Iraqi international he has a broad scouse accent. He fled the Iraqi war when he was 1, with his family settling in Liverpool!
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Eeyore added 21:28 - Jan 29 Very exciting signing. This guy has been overlooked by other clubs. I just know he is going to be amazing.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 21:46 - Jan 29 Excellent young and hungry with room to improve. On another note Gallagher scored tonight and made two assists for Blackburn.
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DannyITFC added 22:25 - Jan 29 This could be an excellent signing with the potential he has, hopefully we are still in line to sign Gallagher, with him playing tonight made me think that deal might not be going through.
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bobble added 00:25 - Jan 30 he looks like a James bond villain......
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Asdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa added 07:58 - Jan 30 Wolfy at the back, Hamadi in attack…
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Bugledog added 08:51 - Jan 30 Excellent. COYB!
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gosblue added 08:57 - Jan 30 Woolfie at the back Ali in attack Surely works better I can’t see Gallagher leaving Blackburn after a goal and two assists last night but I’m still hoping.
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Ipswichbusiness added 09:15 - Jan 30 I welcome him to Suffolk and I hope that he has a long and fulfilling career with us. However, whilst he has potential it is just that; potential. We need someone who can do a job for us NOW. It is a long step up from League Two.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:48 - Jan 30 welcome to Town , reckon it will be a good move. I dont get all the comments on accent and where from, does it really matter, its his footballing skills that count . Well done Ashton and co getting it done . COYB .
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TimmyH added 11:57 - Jan 30 blues1 - just have to look at pigotts record since he left town...did nothing at Portsmouth (4 league goals in 32 appearances and Orient this season 2 goals in 22) - say no more! Agree always players that will step up to be excellent acquisitions as the players you have mentioned but far more though that never make it at a higher level and at this current point in time this January transfer window is really important...will we be in this position next season if we fail to go up or years to come?...for me it had to be a player that doesn't need time to bed in.

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