Chelsea have sold 20-year-old attacker Omari Hutchinson to Ipswich Town in a club-record deal for the Tractor Boys.
The former Arsenal academy graduate shone during a loan spell with Kieran McKenna's side last term, having a direct hand in 17 goals in 50 matches across all competitions.
Hutchinson came up with 10 goals and six assists to help propel Ipswich back to the Premier League via automatic promotion, and Ipswich were understandably keen to keep him at Portman Road.
A permanent deal initially appeared to be out of Ipswich's price range, but McKenna's side did manage to strike hands on a reported fee of around £22m, making him their most expensive signing of all time.
Prior to Hutchinson's return, Ipswich's previous top arrival was former Iceland left-back Hermann Hreidarsson, who joined for £5.7m from Wimbledon in 2000 and therefore held the record for 24 years.
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McKenna talks up "fantastic" Hutchinson after Ipswich return
The 2003-born starlet has penned a five-year contract with the Tractor Boys until the summer of 2029, and McKenna waxed lyrical about Hutchinson after his side struck a deal with Chelsea.
"We're so pleased to bring Omari back on a permanent basis," McKenna told the official Ipswich website. "Omari is someone we all enjoyed working with last season and the staff, his teammates and supporters all saw how he grew and developed over the course of the year, which is testament to the hard work he put in.
"The impact he had on the team throughout the season, especially in the latter part, was evidence of that and he, like so many of his teammates, played a significant part in that success for the Club.
"We think Omari is a fantastic player and person to have at the Club for the long-term future. He has a hunger to improve and show that he can compete and thrive in the Premier League."
Hutchinson leaves Chelsea with just two senior appearances to boast for the Blues, whom he made his debut for in a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City in January 2023.
He's back. 😉 pic.twitter.com/7JpBzg0TmL
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) June 30, 2024
The ex-Arsenal product played his second and final senior game for Chelsea against the same opponents in the FA Cup three days later, and he has won two caps for the Jamaica national team.
Hutchinson sale represents another FFP boost for Chelsea
Many a deal has been struck between clubs treading the Profit and Sustainability tightrope in recent days - a hot topic indeed - as such teams strive to do business before the June 30 financial deadline.
While the Hutchinson transfer is not one of those transactions, the £22m fee that Chelsea will bank from his sale will do wonders for their Financial Fair Play situation, and he is the fifth confirmed departure from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa) and Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) have also left in deals that could fetch up to a combined £65.4m, while Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva have joined Galatasaray and Fluminense respectively on free transfers.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Malang Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher could all follow suit in the coming weeks as part of Enzo Maresca's first summer shake-up.
Ben Knapton
