The £750k Ipswich Town transfer that helped kickstart amazing times at Portman Road
The quick ascent of Ipswich Town from League One to the Premier League was an absolutely amazing tale.
The introduction of Kieran McKenna and other new players helped the Tractor Boys get back on track after they had been in the third division’s midtable for three years.
After placing second in 2022–2023, they were promoted, and the following year they had an amazing season that stunned the Championship. Ipswich was the underdog in a close game against Leicester City and Leeds United, but they won a crucial game against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road on May 4, 2024, to secure promotion.
There are many reasons for this incredible ascent in just two years, but Conor Chaplin was one of the main contributors.
The currently 27-year-old was acquired for £750,000 from Barnsley in 2021. In retrospect, the Tykes will feel that they let a player of exceptional calibre slide through their fingers, but this has turned out to be a true steal.
Conor Chaplin fired Ipswich to League One promotion
Although he made a fantastic contribution to Ipswich’s championship promotion, he was the difference-maker at the League One level.
Without Chaplin’s vital presence in their ranks, the Tractor Boys, who were locked in a struggle with Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, might not have defeated the Owls for the second automatic promotion position.
Playing primarily as a second striker, he scored 26 goals in 45 games, which tied him with Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris as the division’s top scorer.
Throughout that campaign, he was not only a constant source of goals but also a creative force, providing five assists and crafting 68 chances for his teammates.
| Conor Chaplin 22-23 League One Record (FotMob) | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 45 |
| Goals | 26 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Shots | 161 |
| Expected Goals | 17.3 |
| Chances Created | 68 |
Chaplin, however, proved his value to McKenna’s team during the run-in for promotion. Ipswich finished undefeated in the last 19 games, scoring an outstanding 47 points out of a possible 57. In order to secure promotion from Wednesday by two points, Chaplin was crucial throughout this time, scoring 13 goals and dishing out two assists when it counted most.
Chaplin took his form into the Championship
Even though it would be difficult to duplicate his third-tier performance, Ipswich’s number ten was crucial to McKenna’s success the previous season.
Despite spending most of the season playing behind Kieffer Moore or George Hirst, he managed 13 goals and increased his season total of assists to eight. His goals continued to come at pivotal moments, continuing the trend from the previous season, and the Tractor Boys finished the championship season with 15 points thanks to his goals.
It’s doubtful that Ipswich supporters would have expected a player who had previously hung about the bottom end of the Championship and League One to play a key role in propelling them to consecutive promotions after they paid £750,000 for him. But that’s just what he has accomplished. Although Chaplin has made significant contributions, McKenna’s ability to place him in a position just behind the striker has elevated his play.
Getting Chaplin to have an effect in the Premier League is the next challenge facing the Ipswich head coach. However, the six-figure price they paid for the former Portsmouth man was well worth it, even if he doesn’t succeed in this endeavour.
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