Ipswich Town Confirm Midfielder Signing on £25,000-a-Week Contract
Ipswich Town have completed the signing of highly-rated midfielder Sam Morsy on a new long-term contract worth a reported £25,000 per week, the club confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. The deal, described by manager Kieran McKenna as a “statement of intent”, ties the 33-year-old Egyptian international to Portman Road until the summer of 2028, with an option for a further year.
The announcement ends months of speculation surrounding Morsy’s future after his previous deal, signed upon his £750,000 move from Middlesbrough in 2021, entered its final year. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Ipswich moved swiftly in recent weeks to secure their captain and midfield linchpin on improved terms that reflect both his importance to the team and the club’s new financial reality in the Premier League.
Morsy’s new contract is understood to make him one of the highest earners in the current squad, with the £25,000 weekly wage representing a significant increase on his previous reported £12,000–£15,000 per week. The figure, while modest by top-flight standards, is a landmark for Ipswich Town, a club that spent 22 years outside the Premier League before last season’s back-to-back promotions under McKenna.
Speaking exclusively to the club’s official website, McKenna hailed the agreement as a major coup.
“Sam has been the heartbeat of everything we’ve achieved over the last three years,” the Northern Irishman said. “He’s our captain, our leader, and quite simply one of the best midfielders in the country at what he does. To get this deal over the line so early in the season sends a huge message about where this club is going. We’re building something sustainable, and keeping Sam for the prime years of his career is central to that.”
Morsy himself expressed delight at committing his future to the Tractor Boys.
“I’ve lived this journey with the fans – League One, Championship, and now the Premier League,” he told Ipswich TV. “When the manager and the owners sat me down and showed me the vision, there was only one place I wanted to be. This is home now. I want to help keep this club in the Premier League and bring more memories to this town.”
Since arriving from Middlesbrough three years ago, Morsy has been a near-ever-present figure, making 148 appearances and scoring 12 goals. His tenacity, leadership, and ability to break up play while initiating attacks have made him a cult hero among supporters. Last season he played every single minute of Ipswich’s Championship-winning campaign, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact he did so while captaining Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations midway through the season.
The new deal also includes significant performance-related bonuses, including clauses tied to Premier League survival and potential international milestones with Egypt. It is believed the contract contains a substantial release clause – reported to be in excess of £15 million – designed to deter interest from wealthier Premier League rivals while still offering Morsy an exit route should an irresistible offer arrive in future windows.
Behind the scenes, the agreement is seen as a triumph for Ipswich’s recruitment and contract negotiation team, led by chief executive Mark Ashton. With the club now operating under Premier League profit and sustainability rules, securing Morsy on a long-term deal avoids the prospect of losing him for free next summer and enhances his resale value should the club choose to cash in later.
The timing of the announcement – coming just 48 hours after Morsy’s man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United – has only heightened the feel-good factor around Portman Road. Supporters flooded social media with messages of relief and celebration, with the hashtag #Morsy2028 trending locally within minutes of the news breaking.
Former Ipswich captain Matt Holland, now a regular pund