Issa Diop has swapped Craven Cottage for Portman Road after Ipswich Town completed an £8.5m move to bring the Morocco defender to Suffolk. The 29-year-old, who played five times for Morocco at the World Cup as they reached the quarter-finals, has signed a contract until 2030.
Diop brings significant Premier League experience to Ipswich, having played 173 games in the top flight for Fulham and West Ham. He joined West Ham from Toulouse in 2018 and spent four seasons with the Hammers before moving to Fulham in a £15m deal in 2022. He played 96 times across all competitions for the Cottagers, but only made eight Premier League starts last season.
“Ipswich Town sign Morocco defender Issa Diop from Fulham for £8.5m, adding Premier League experience.”
"I'm excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town," said Diop. "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. It has been a busy summer for me, representing Morocco at the World Cup, but I am proud to be joining Ipswich Town and am looking forward to meeting the staff, my team-mates and the supporters very soon."
Diop becomes Ipswich's sixth signing of the summer, following the acquisition of Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester for £20m earlier this week. Striker Emersonn joined from Toulouse earlier this month for a club-record fee of about £26m. Defender Cedric Kipre and forward Chuba Akpom signed on a permanent basis following successful loans last season, while goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen arrived from Dutch side FC Volendam.
With Diop's arrival, Ipswich add Premier League nous to a squad promoted from the Championship last season. The question now is whether his experience can help the newly promoted side avoid an immediate return to the second tier.