New Ipswich Town signing Chiedozie Ogbene says he's ready for a second crack at the Premier League - and insists Town's fighting spirit will stand them in good stead for the test ahead.
The rapid Irish international winger became the Blues' 12th signing of the summer this morning, arriving from Luton Town for £8m and agreeing a four-year deal.
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In his first interview with Town TV, he said: “I’m just delighted to be here at such a big club.
"Obviously you see what they’re doing, recruiting some very strong players and they want to be competitive in this league – and I’m just lucky that I’ve been chosen to be part of the adventure.”
Of the move he added: "I was at Luton and then this accelerated very quickly.
“The manager had made contact with my manager at Luton, Rob Edwards, and he said positive things about me.
“They were just doing character checks and then this happened quickly for me, I travelled down last night.
“I have been aware that Ipswich are quite interested, but I didn’t know how strong it was.
“When I heard Luton had agreed a deal, straight away the manager gave me a phone call – I listened to his ideas, and it was very positive.
“Getting this opportunity, especially with my journey – it was always a dream to be at this level, I played it last year and it didn’t quite work out the way we wanted it.
“So for the manager to give me this opportunity and for a club to believe that I’m good enough to play at this level, it means a lot to me and my family.”
He continued: “It was clear that I wasn’t going to move to another Championship club, I was very happy at Luton.
“Obviously, given the opportunity of the Premier League, I was never going to turn it down – it’s going to be special for myself and my family.
“I got the support of the club to help me progress my career and that’s ultimately what we’re here for, we all want to play at the highest level and move up.
“It was an easy decision for me, and it was quite lucky that this opportunity came in.
“I just had to grab it with two hands.”
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Ogbene, 27, had a taste of life in the top tier with the Hatters last season, scoring four goals and laying on one assist in 33 games.
Of that experience, he explained: “It was good, an unforgettable year for myself personally because making my Premier League debut was something I dreamed of as a kid.
“It was difficult, I won’t lie to you – the Premier League is very difficult compared to the Championship, but it’s very exciting.
“It’s a league where everyone dreams to be and I’m sure all these players have worked hard to get here.
“So it’s very rewarding, with highs and lows, but it’s a league where players can really showcase their abilities and showcase their personalities.
“Hopefully that’s what we’re going to do, and that’s what I’m going to do.
“It’s a league that fans really enjoy and I’m just so happy that hopefully these fans will enjoy this year.”
Like many of Town's players, Ogbene hasn't taken the easy route to the top. He started playing Gaelic football in Ireland, having been born in Nigeria, before turning out for Cork City and Limerick.
A move to Brentford followed in January 2018, but that didn't really work out, and it wasn't until he got to Rotherham in August 2019 that he really started to make his name.
He scored 14 goals in 136 games there, before joining Premier League new boys Luton on a Bosman free transfer last summer.
Asked if they were positives he could take from his time in the top tier with Luton - who were ultimately relegated - he said: "Yeah, especially for me.
"It’s the highest level I’ve ever played at in my career and especially with my journey, coming from the Republic of Ireland and Limerick, going to Brentford and it not working out.
“So my journey’s quite up and down. Seven, eight years ago I was in Ireland playing Gaelic football, and eight years later I made my Premier League debut.
“My old coach said that one in one thousand people can make that leap and it was special for me.
“It was very special for Luton fans too, the first time they’ve been in the Premier League and they supported us all through the season, when we had our highs and our lows.
“So it was a special year for them, for the players and for the town of Luton.
“Being immersed in the culture of Luton and playing for Luton for a year, it was special, a year that we couldn’t forget.”
Indeed, while that initial journey from Ireland saw him end up at Brentford, Suffolk could very easily have been his first stop in the English game.
Ogbene recalled: "In January 2018 I was actually here on trial, during the time of Mick McCarthy, and there was no hard feelings.
“I think I was quite raw and I wasn’t ready. I obviously signed for Brentford at the time, but I’m quite familiar – obviously it’s upgraded and advanced from the last time I remember, but it’s a great place.
“It was my first trial in England, so it was surreal for me to see such facilities that we didn’t have back home in Ireland.
“So it’s a second time coming, and hopefully it will be positive.”
One of the many positives linked to joining Town is, of course, brilliant young boss Kieran McKenna.
Asked about his chat with the Blues' chief, Ogbene said: "It was very positive, very good.
"He was clear, he doesn’t beat about the bush, he tells you it’s going to be a very difficult league, he told me what he wants from me, what role I’m going to play in this team – obviously, nothing is granted, nothing is gifted, you have to work hard and there are some good players here.
“I’m just here to be hopefully a positive addition to the team, to push everybody, to push myself and hopefully achieve the goal and maintain Premier League status.”
On what excited him about Town as a team, he enthused: “I think it’s the cohesion. When we played Ipswich in a pre-season friendly last year we could see the cohesion they had in the team, the way everyone was working.
“Obviously they were a well-structured team from their manager and it was a tough game for us. That’s when we really realised that Ipswich mean business.
“So hopefully that cohesion will be the same, people fighting for each other.
“You see the likes of other teams in the Championship, on paper they have the best talented players, but these players work harder, they’re hungry – and that’s what works in football, it’s a team event.
“So if you’ve got a group of players that want to fight for each other and are willing to sacrifice for each other, the reward shows – they got promoted, not by play-off, but automatic position.
“So that just shows what they have here.”
Ogbene, who says he's ready to play straight away, concluded: "I’m fit and ready so hopefully everything goes well and I’m involved as soon as possible and see what I can do and help the team.”
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