The English-born Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom agreed to join Championship side Ipswich Town on a season-long loan, the Blues announced.
He becomes club’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window and could make his debut away at Bromley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening.
“I was really excited when I heard of the interest and I’m delighted to have joined a club with such big ambitions. I watch a lot of football and have always thought Ipswich would suit my style, so this move makes perfect sense,” Akpom told TownTV.
“I have had lots of good experiences over the last few years, at Ajax and playing in the Champions League with Lille, and I feel like all of these have improved me as a player and helped me be the person I am now. I’m here to do as much as I can do to help the team, in the changing room and on the pitch, and I’ll bring a winning mentality here,” he added.
The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at French side Lille, featuring in the Champions League, and has extensive Championship experience with Middlesbrough, Brighton, Hull City and Nottingham Forest.
Chuba’s through the door. 🚪 pic.twitter.com/5TOKBpNBPH
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) August 10, 2025
After coming through the Arsenal youth system, Chuba spent loan spells away from the Gunners with Brentford, Coventry, Hull and Brighton, before then joining Belgian side Sint-Truiden for the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.
He then joined PAOK Salonika in Cyprus on a permanent basis, scoring 14 goals over two seasons, before returning to England with Middlesbrough in September 2020. During his time at the Riverside, the striker returned to PAOK on loan for the 2021/22 campaign then enjoyed a hugely successful season, scoring 28 Championship goals and finishing with the Golden Boot.
His form then secured a move to Ajax in the summer, where Chuba scored 21 goals prior to moving to Lille for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, where he debuted in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, internationally, Akpom has featured for England’s youth level teams, but has expressed his desire to represent the Nigerian senior team, the Super Eagles.
