For Ipswich Town this season, life in the top flight has been extremely difficult. The hardest opening round of the league this year had to have been between Kieran McKenna’s team and Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Tractor Boys did not win either game, but they have since drawn with Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Fulham, demonstrating a tenacious spirit that might very well keep them in the Premier League.
As their supporters will attest, it is precisely this will to succeed and tenacity that has allowed them to rocket through the ranks in recent years, an ascent that has also seen the valuations of several of its players soar.
Ipswich’s rapid rise
Some may find it ridiculous, but just two years ago, Ipswich would have been starting their fourth consecutive League One season. The previous year, they had finished the season in 11th place after hiring McKenna halfway through.
But unlike the previous year, the Northern Irishman’s first full season in command would see the Blues storm the league, finishing in second place and earning automatic promotion back to the Championship, where they had played for the majority of the previous 20 years. Although the Guardian predicted that the team would compete in the play-offs, there was anticipation that the team would be competitive in the second division. However, very few, if any, commentators predicted that the team would advance automatically, and that is exactly what happened.
McKenna’s team had an incredible season, winning 28 games, scoring 92 goals, and finishing with 96 points—just one less than champions Leicester City—over the course of the campaign. All told, Ipswich’s past two seasons have been incredible. Although they added some intriguing new players during the summer, they still have the guys who have been with them since League One, including one whose value has increased dramatically over the past two seasons.
Conor Chaplin’s valuation in 2024
Conor Chaplin, a gifted attacker who signed with the team in July 2021 from Barnsley for an undisclosed sum later found to be just £750k, is the player in question, yes.
Since then, the 27-year-old has shown to be an incredible value for the money; even if he isn’t the squad’s most well-known player, he has been a valuable member of the team and has contributed significantly to both promotions. For instance, in 52 appearances across all competitions during the team’s final League One season, the “scintillating” star—dubbed so by EFL analyst Don Goodman—scored goals 29 times and contributed five assists.
With nine assists and thirteen goals in 47 games last season, the Worthing native maintained his outstanding play. This meant that over the course of the two promotion-winning campaigns, the former Barnsley poacher averaged a goal involvement every 1.76 games.With nine assists and thirteen goals in 47 games last season, the Worthing native maintained his outstanding play. This meant that over the course of the two promotion-winning campaigns, the former Barnsley poacher averaged a goal involvement every 1.76 games.
His valuation has naturally skyrocketed due to his incredible run of success; according to Transfermarkt, he is currently valued at €7 million, which is equivalent to roughly £5.8 million or a staggering 673% rise over the sum he originally cost the club.
In the end, Ipswich has had an amazing couple of years, and while the back-to-back promotions are unquestionably the main story, it’s wonderful to see the players who have been with the team since the beginning receive the credit they deserve.