Omari Hutchinson: Ipswich sign winger from Chelsea in club-record deal

Omari Hutchinson has joined Ipswich in a club-record deal from Chelsea for an initial fee of £18m plus performance related add-ons; Hutchinson becomes Tractor Boys’ first summer signing; the 20-year-old moves to Ipswich permanently after impressing on loan last season

Ipswich have signed Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea in a club-record deal.

Sky Sports News understands Ipswich have agreed a deal for an initial fee of £18m plus performance related add-ons for the winger, who has signed a five-year contract at the Tractor Boys.

The 20-year-old moves to Ipswich permanently after impressing on loan at Portman Road last season in the Championship as he contributed 10 goals and six assists in their automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Jamaica international becomes Ipswich’s first summer signing as the club prepare for their first Premier League season in 22 years.

Hutchinson departs Chelsea having made just two first-team appearances for the Blues after re-joining the club from Arsenal in July 2022.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna said of Hutchinson’s signing: “We’re so pleased to bring Omari back on a permanent basis.

“Omari is someone we all enjoyed working with last season and the staff, his team-mates 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.

Dermot Gallagher delivers firm Arsenal verdict after Piers Morgan brands Ipswich Town star a ‘thug’

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his verdict on the controversial tackle made by Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis on Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka during the Gunners’ 4-0 win over the Tractor Boys.

Mikel Arteta’s side dispatched the Premier League strugglers easily at Portman Road but were helped with the hosts being reduced to 10 men after just 32 minutes. Arsenal were 1-0 up at the time thanks to a Leandro Trossard opener when Davis took out Saka from behind with his studs showing.

Referee Chris Kavanagh brandished a straight red for Davis, the 25-year-old picking up the first sending off of his professional career. The challenge had Arsenal fans’ hearts in mouths given Saka’s struggles with injuries this season and ahead of the mammoth Champions League semi final ties against Paris Saint-Germain.

Ipswich Town defender sent off against Arsenal

One fan who was particularly incensed by the challenge was TV presenter and well-known Arsenal super fan Piers Morgan. Taking to social media platform X to share his views on the challenge, Morgan wrote: “Disgusting tackle by Davis that could have ended Saka’s season.. and now Ipswich fans are loudly booing the victim not their thug. Pathetic clowns.”

Labelling Davis a ‘thug’, Morgan appeared to imply a degree of intent or recklessness about the tackle but Gallagher affirmed that he didn’t believe that Davis meant to harm the Arsenal winger. Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he said: “I did [think it was a red]. I don’t think he goes to hurt him, he just gets it badly wrong.

“It is a red card because you can’t make a tackle like that on the Achilles with studs. What I did like, I think Chris Kavanagh replayed it in his mind, didn’t close his options, gave himself thinking time and got the red card out, which I think was correct.”