Ipswich Town have made two more statement signings, snapping up Morocco defender Issa Diop from Fulham and Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City, as Gary O'Neil's side prepare for their Premier League return.
Diop, 29, joins for an undisclosed fee and has signed a deal until summer 2030. The centre-back played five times for Morocco as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals this summer. He brings significant top-flight experience, having made 173 Premier League appearances for Fulham and West Ham. Diop joined West Ham from Toulouse in 2018 and moved to Fulham for £15m in 2022, playing 96 times across all competitions for the Cottagers – though he made only eight league starts last season.
“Ipswich sign Morocco defender Issa Diop and Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu in big-money deals.”
"I'm excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town," Diop said. "I know how big the club is and have enjoyed all of the conversations I have had before making the move. I know this is the right place for me."
Fatawu, 22, arrives from Leicester for £20m on a five-year contract. The Ghana international scored 16 goals in 100 games for the Foxes since joining from Sporting in 2023 and played in all four of Ghana's World Cup matches. He becomes Ipswich's fifth summer signing – and sixth after Diop – following the club-record £26m capture of striker Emersonn from Toulouse, permanent deals for defenders Cedric Kipre and forward Chuba Akpom, and goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen from FC Volendam.
"The ambition the club has is very exciting," Fatawu said. "After speaking to the manager, I know what the expectation is."
Ipswich, who finished second in the Championship last season, are preparing to host Sunderland in their top-flight opener on 22 August. With Fatawu's arrival, the club are willing to let winger Jaden Philogene leave, with interest from Bologna, Roma and Benfica.
The spending spree reflects O'Neil's determination to keep the Tractor Boys in the Premier League – a task made more urgent by the fact that Leicester, from whom they signed Fatawu, were relegated to the third tier last season.