Ipswich Town are back in the Championship following a four-year absence. Stuart Watson takes a look at where the team that started the club's last game at that level - a 3-2 home win against Leeds on May 5, 2019 - are now.
BARTOSZ BIALKOWSKI
Town’s three-times Player of the Year left club in bizarre circumstances following relegation.
The Polish custodian was set to join Millwall for a fee of £900k only for the transfer to collapse at the medical stage after the South London club expressed concerns about a knee problem.
Negotiations continued and it was finally agreed that a season-long loan for Town's highest earner would be the best solution for all parties, though the move did become permanent in the subsequent January transfer window.
Bialkowski remains at The Den four years on having clocked up 153 appearances for the Championship outfit. He’s remained living in Ipswich throughout that time.
Lost his place to George Long last season and could be on the bench when Millwall visit Portman Road in late November.
JAMES BREE
A January loan signing from Aston Villa, Bree made 13 starts and one sub appearance for Town as the club fell through the Championship trap door.
Right-back joined Luton Town on loan the following season, with the move becoming permanent after that.
After playing a key role in the Hatters’ progressive second-tier finishes of 19th, 12th and sixth he made a £750k switch to Premier League club Southampton back in January, becoming reunited with former boss Nathan Jones.
Having found game time limited after Ruben Selles took charge, the 25-year-old is hopeful he can regain his place under new boss Russell Martin in the Championship next season.
LUKE CHAMBERS
Town’s long-serving skipper stayed on for two more seasons following relegation.
He left Portman Road as part of Paul Cook’s ‘Demolition Man’ summer of 2021 having made 396 appearances for the club. Behind-closed-doors football, due to Covid, meant he was sadly unable to have his efforts acknowledged by the fans.
Joined a host of former Ipswich team-mates at Essex neighbours Colchester United where he has spent the last two seasons playing in League Two.
The 37-year-old is now a free agent. He’s keen to keep playing and move further up English football’s all-time appearance makers list (currently seventh on 791).
TOTO NSIALA
Strong but erratic centre-half injured his hamstring on the club’s pre-season tour of Germany in the summer of 2019. Upon his return to fitness, was loaned out to fellow League One side Bolton in January 2020.
Made 27 league starts for the Blues the following season and surprisingly escaped Cook’s 2021 cull as Player of the Year James Wilson was released.
Went off injured on the opening day of the 2021/22 season. Had to apologise following a post-match confrontation with angry Town fans at Charlton under the caretaker management of John McGreal. Was allowed to join League One rivals Fleetwood for a nominal fee the following month.
Asked how he reflected on his time in Suffolk, Nsiala – who has already played 62 games for the Cod Army - said: “Some things are best left not really spoken about and you just move on.”
MYLES KENLOCK
Academy graduate was never quite able to nail down the left-back slot during the club’s first two seasons in League One, with the likes of Luke Garbutt and Stephen Ward ahead of him.
Was compared to ‘John Travolta’ by boss Paul Lambert after scoring a penalty during a Papa John’s Trophy shootout win against Peterborough in December 2019.
Spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Colchester before being released.
Made just five league starts in seven months at League Two side Barrow last season before moving to Aldershot on a short-term deal in March. The 26-year-old is currently in discussions with the National League club about a new deal.
TREVOH CHALOBAH
Season-long loan at Ipswich, in which he was a deep-lying midfield regular, was his first experience of senior football. The then teenager showed potential in difficult circumstances.
Chelsea youngster subsequently spent 2019/20 at Championship club Huddersfield and 2020/21 at French club Lorient before breaking into the first team at Stamford Bridge.
Transitioning into a ball-playing centre-back, he started in the Super Cup, FA Cup and League Cup finals of 2021/22.
He has started 35 Premier League games and five Champions League games under three different managers (Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter), facing the likes of Man City, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus.
Will the 23-year-old add to those under Mauricio Pochettino? Has been linked with a move to recent Champions League finalists Inter Milan this summer.
COLE SKUSE
Like his good friend Chambers, stalwart midfielder Skuse stayed on for two more seasons following relegation before getting released by Cook and joining Colchester.
He too has just been released by the U’s and, at the age of 37, has opted to hang up his boots and become manager of Suffolk non-league side Bury Town.
Also works full-time as a coach at St Joseph’s College in Ipswich.
FLYNN DOWNES
Homegrown midfielder really impressed during Town’s first season down in League One, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to wear the captain’s armband.
Town then rejected two bids from Premier League club Crystal Palace and Downes handed in a transfer request. He ended up staying at Portman Road that summer, subsequently endured an injury-hit, stop-start season before leaving to join Championship club Swansea in a £1.5m deal.
A superb debut campaign in South Wales led to the Essex boy making a £9m switch to West Ham last summer. He made seven Premier League starts last season and featured regularly during the Hammers’ run to winning the Europa Conference League.
Declan Rice’s anticipated departure could open the door for more minutes at the London Stadium. It has been reported that Russell Martin is keen to be reunited with Downes at newly-relegated Championship club Southampton though.
ANDRE DOZZELL
Ipswich-born midfielder – who, just like his dad Jason, scored on his Blues debut age 16 – impressed on that final day of the season win against Leeds.
However, following summer interest from rivals Norwich City, Paul Lambert handed him just eight league starts the following campaign.
Town owner Marcus Evans is understood to have stepped in during the summer of 2020 and insisted that the England youth international become the centrepiece of the side.
Dozzell started 45 matches the following season, signing a new contract midway through, with Championship club QPR subsequently triggering a £1m buy-out clause in the summer of 2021.
Technically-gifted pass-master is now 24. He’s been in and out of the side at Loftus Road under the management of Mark Warburton, Michael Beale, Neil Critchley and Gareth Ainsworth.
Ipswich go to QPR on August 19.
ALAN JUDGE
Town turned down two offers from QPR for the Irish attacker following relegation.
It was a move he wanted to make, due to the fact his daughter required two operations in West London, but owner Evans played hardball over a player who he had only just signed in January.
Judge scored eight goals over the following two seasons. Sadly, he is probably best remembered for being headbutted by referee Darren Drysdale during a 0-0 home draw with Northampton.
Like Chambers and Skuse, he has spent the last two seasons at Colchester. Suffered a major knee injury in March (not the first time in his career) and is now a free agent. The 34-year-old insists he’s not ready to retire yet.
COLLIN QUANER
The big German striker was brought in on loan from Huddersfield midway through Town’s relegation campaign.
It was him who scored the Blues’ late winner against Leeds on the final day of 2018/19, taking his goal tally to four in 16 for the club.
He made just five sub appearances for the Terriers during the 2019/20 campaign. Then, after a six-month period where he didn’t have a club, Quaner managed one goal in eight games at Scottish side St Mirren.
In November 2021 he joined Austrian side Klagenfurt but was soon forced to announce his retirement at the age of 30 due to persistent injuries.
SUBS BENCH
DEAN GERKEN
Spent two years at Colchester after Ipswich release. Now the head of academy goalkeeping at his former club Bristol City.
CALLUM ELDER
Moved to Hull after his Leicester to Ipswich loan ended. Had four good years with the Tigers, including a League One promotion. Has just joined Derby on a free transfer.
JOSH EMMANUEL
Homegrown right-back went on to play for Bolton and Hull. Was reunited with Paul Hirst at League Two club Grimsby Town last summer. Currently out of contract and looks set to move back up the pyramid.
IDRIS EL MIZOUNI
French-born midfielder has had a stop-start four years due to loans and injuries. It will be interesting to see what’s next after a very impressive season at League Two champions Leyton Orient. Has lots of League One interest.
KAYDEN JACKSON
Fell out with Lambert, not fancied by Cook, but has been rejuvenated by Kieran McKenna. Was called upon for some important games during Town’s promotion season.
ELLIS HARRISON
Striker had spells at Portsmouth and Fleetwood. Scored 11 goals for Port Vale in League One last season.
KAI BROWN
Striker never played for Town after joining from Grays. The 22-year-old has just signed for Basildon United following spells at Whitehawk and Burgess Hill Town last season.
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