Ipswich Town: Jacob Greaves first interview since signing

The 6ft 4ins centre-back signed from Hull City on Friday night in a move understood to be worth £15m, rising to £18m with add-ons.

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And the 23-year-old, who featured in the 2023/24 Championship team of the season, said chats with boss Kieran McKenna were a big part of his decision to sign.

“I’m absolutely delighted," he told TownTV. "It’s a massive club. As soon as I heard there was a bit of interest I spoke to the people around me and they were all extra keen to try and get this move over the line.

“Now it’s done, I’m very happy.”

READ MORE: A 'special' leader looking to emulate Maguire - our Greaves profile

He continued: “I’ve spoken to Kieran quite a few times over this last month, and every conversation I’ve had with him has been positive.

“It’s made me quite excited for the future project, talking about tactics, life, whatever it’s been, it’s been spot on with me.

“That was a big factor into the reason I’ve come here, and then obviously my agent had dealings with Mark (Ashton) but I think everything went really smoothly and now the deal’s done I’m excited.”

Jacob Greaves has signed a five-year deal (Image: ITFC/Matchday Images)
Asked to expand on his chats with McKenna, Greaves said: “A lot of the conversations were how he sees me playing, tactically in terms of whether that’s the full-back pushing on and me having to cover space or how he sets his teams up in terms of leaving a three on the backline and everyone else being aggressive man to man.

“Then we had a lot of conversations about the Hull v Ipswich game from last season, the tactics in that and speaking to him about that was like ‘wow’ – you can see the detail he goes into to succeed and obviously that worked last season with how well they did.”

And Greaves said the similarities in the way the Tigers and Town play was another big consideration in his decision.

WATCH: Exclusive video insight into what we can expect from Greaves

He explained: “The styles of play are quite similar in terms of the way Hull played and how Ipswich played last season.

“So I think coming into training and the games I’ll be quite used to it.

“Obviously this manager is going to have different ways, but there’s definitely some similarities in the way we like to play out from the back with the two pivots in midfield.

“It really suited me last year, I feel like I excelled in that way of playing, so to come to this team was massive in terms of the way they play, and hopefully I can have a similar season this year.”

Left-footer Greaves is known to be a leader, good in the air and in the tackle, with the ability to pick a pass when needed, too.

But how does he describe himself as a player?

Greaves says he loves to win duels (Image: PA)
“I always think that’s quite a tough question to answer," he laughed. "Someone that’s aggressive, I like to go in for a lot of duels and I like to win duels – I think I’m aerially quite strong.

“I think I’ve improved in both boxes in the last year in terms of heading balls away and getting first contact attacking wise.

“I’ll give my all every game. I know it sounds quite cliché, but I’ll always fight for the badge and give everything to represent this club in the right manner.”

Having been at Hull City since the age of seven, and winning a promotion with them, leaving the Tigers has clearly been a big decision for Greaves.

But the thoughtful defender says he wants to push himself out of his comfort zone and show what he can do in the Premier League.

Greaves says chats with Kieran McKenna were a key part of his decision to sign (Image: PA)
He explained: “It had to be a perfect club for me to want to leave and this is the right next step for me.

“I think it’s going to be a massive challenge, I’m going to be out of my comfort zone, I’m going to be tested – but that’s what I wanted.

“I think to improve as a player you’ve got to make that next step and I think that next step is here.

“I’ve got big aspirations as a player, I want to really go on and do the best I can.

“I think under this manager and with this group of guys, I feel like I’ve got no better opportunity than to showcase what I’ve got at this club.”

At Town, he joins a group with relatively little Premier League experience - but a track record in attacking and overcoming challenges.

Greaves said: “I don’t think a lot of the lads have got that Premier League experience here, so I’m coming in as probably one of the guys trying to make that next step as well in my career.

“So to be on that same journey with a lot of the other lads - I’m sure they will be so hungry, like I am, to go and showcase their talent in the biggest league in the world.”

Town are getting ready to tackle the Premier League - and Greaves wants that test (Image: PA)
He added: "Every changing room I’ve been in has had that similar vibe – humble and hard-working – and every conversation I’ve had with the manager, he’s said how good the lads were, how hungry they were, how humble they were.

“You don’t make things like that up. And I think the history of what they’ve done speaks for itself, coming through League One and the Championship back-to-back, you’ve got to be good people to go on and do that in a group where they’ve all stayed together, the majority of them.

“Hopefully I can fit in as best I can with a new group.”