Ipswich Town secure World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen

Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen. The 27-year-old World Cup winner has agreed to a four-year contract with the Premier League club for an undisclosed fee.

This acquisition represents the eleventh signing of the transfer window for the newly promoted side. It underscores a significant financial commitment from the club, which has now spent more than £150m since returning to the Premier League.

Palacios brings extensive top-level experience to Portman Road. He was part of the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup and reached the final of the 2026 tournament, where he started the group stage victory over Jordan.

His club career includes a move to Germany in 2020, where he made 186 appearances and scored 15 goals for Leverkusen. During his six years at the BayArena, he helped the club secure its first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, alongside a DFB Pokal and a German Super Cup under manager Xabi Alonso.

The midfielder highlighted the project’s ambition upon his arrival. "I am excited to play football in England and compete against some of the best clubs and players in the world," Palacios stated.

Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil emphasized the value of such pedigree for a newly promoted squad. He noted that Palacios’s experience in winning the World Cup and major club trophies will be vital as the team continues to improve this summer.

The recruitment drive extends beyond Palacios, with the club also progressing a loan move for striker Tammy Abraham from Aston Villa. This follows a strong start to their campaign, including a 2-1 victory over Sunderland and a Carabao Cup third-round triumph against Leicester City.

Before his time in Germany, Palacios developed at his boyhood club River Plate. He made his senior debut in 2015 and secured the Copa Libertadores in 2018, in addition to two Copa Argentina titles.