Ipswich Town agree club record transfer fee with Chelsea to sign Omari Hutchinson on permanent basis
Ipswich Town have reportedly agreed an initial transfer fee of around £20 million with Chelsea to bring loan star Omari Hutchinson back to Portman Road on a permanent basis.
Kieran Mckenna had made the 20-year-old one of his top transfer targets after the wing wizard played a pivotal role in the Blues securing automatic promotion to the Premier League in their first season since a second-placed finish in League One.
According to The Athletic, the transfer fee is an initial £20 million plus another £2.5 million in top-up clauses plus a sell-on, but with no buyback agreement. The Jamaican international’s previous club, Arsenal, will receive a proportion of the fee from a sell-on clause.
Numerous media outlets have also reported the news, with SuffolkNews’ media partner TWTD understanding Hutchinson is set to be unveiled as a permanent Town player early next week, subject to his medical going through okay. Personal terms are understood to have already been agreed.
It is set to smash the Suffolk club’s record transfer fee, the £4.8 million paid to Italian side Sampdoria for goalkeeper Matteo Sereni the last time the Tractor Boys were in the Premier League, in the summer of 2001.
Hutchinson, who can also play in the number 10 role, enjoyed a standout 2023/24 season-long loan at Portman Road, ending with 11 goals (10 league) and six assists (all league) from 50 appearances (44 league) that included 25 starts. His standout performances saw him win the club’s Young Player of the Year award.
He gave an indication that he would be keen on a return to Portman Road when he posted an emotional departure message, saying Town will ‘always have a place in my heart’ after a ‘special year’ with ‘special people’.
Chelsea are understood to have been keen to get the move over the line before the end of the month, having been reported to need to sell players in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Hutchinson would become Town’s first senior acquisition since promotion, having signed 17-year-old defender Leon Elliott earlier this month.
However, it is also being reported Town are also close to announcing the addition of former West Ham right-back Ben Johnson on a free transfer.
The 24-year-old is believed to have agreed a four-year deal at Portman Road with his move expected to also be set to be confirmed early next week, once his West Ham contract is up.
