Ipswich Town will kick off their first Premier League season in two years with a home clash against Sunderland on August 16, 2026. The Tractor Boys secured promotion as Championship runners-up last season, finishing second with 84 points (23W-15D-8L) and a +33 goal difference, trailing leaders Coventry City by 11 points.
Who is leading Ipswich Town into the new season?
Gary O’Neil, the former Wolves and Strasbourg head coach, took over from Kieran McKenna in June after the latter stepped down following promotion. O’Neil’s first competitive match in charge will be the Premier League opener against Sunderland, a team he knows well from his time in the Championship.
What new faces have joined Ipswich Town?
Ipswich have spent around £110m this summer, with Brazilian striker Emersonn arriving for £24m from Toulouse and Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu joining for £20m. Other key signings include Fulham duo Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop, Burnley midfielder Florentino Luis, Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, and goalkeepers Kayne van Oevelen and Kjell Scherpen. Loan signings Cedric Kipre and Chuba Akpom have also made permanent moves to the club.
Who has left Ipswich Town this summer?
Several players have departed, including goalkeeper Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo), defender Elkan Baggott (Millwall), and forwards Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns (both Leicester City). Conor Townsend joined West Bromwich Albion, while Cieran Slicker is on loan at Barnsley. Former Sunderland captain Dan Neil has moved to Rangers after his loan spell ended.
How has Ipswich Town performed in pre-season?
O’Neil’s side had mixed results in pre-season, starting with a goalless draw against FC Cartagena and a 2-1 defeat to Osasuna. They then split their squad for two games on the same day, losing 2-0 at Oxford United but beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-1. A 1-0 win over Le Havre was followed by a 3-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano, with Leif Davis and Emersonn scoring. Their final pre-season test comes against Union Berlin this weekend.
