Ipswich Town Sign Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara

Ipswich Town have underlined their Premier League intent with a double swoop from Strasbourg, bringing back a familiar face and adding one of Ligue 1’s most promising young midfielders.

Julio Enciso, the electric Paraguay winger who lit up Portman Road during a loan spell last season, has signed permanently alongside Ivorian midfielder Abdoul Ouattara. Both have agreed five-year deals, tying them to the club through the heart of Ipswich’s top-flight return.

The combined fee for the pair could climb to £47.3m and continues a remarkable spending drive since promotion, with Ipswich’s outlay now at around £150m and the tally of major signings up to 12.

Enciso returns to a club he already calls home

Enciso knows exactly what he is walking back into.

The 22-year-old, previously on the books at Brighton, spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Ipswich before moving to Strasbourg. His impact in that short spell helped fuel the club’s charge back to the Premier League and left a clear impression on supporters and staff alike.

"I am so happy to be back at Ipswich Town," Enciso said. "I really enjoyed my time on loan at the club and I was so happy to see them win promotion back to the Premier League last season.

"I worked with the manager in France last season and the chance to play for him again at a great club like Ipswich is one I'm very excited for."

The link with boss Gary O'Neil has proved decisive. Enciso played under him at Strasbourg and now reunites with the manager in Suffolk, offering continuity in style and expectations as Ipswich attempt to bridge the gap to Premier League level.

Ouattara brings European pedigree

If Enciso is the known quantity, Ouattara is the statement of ambition.

At 20, the Ivorian has already banked serious minutes in a major European league. He made 45 appearances for Strasbourg in the French top flight and played a key role in their run to the Uefa Conference League semi-finals last season, gaining experience in high-pressure knockout football before his move to England.

"I am still young but have had some good experiences already and I can't wait to meet the fans and my team-mates and get started," Ouattara said.

His arrival gives O'Neil another powerful, energetic option in midfield, one schooled in the demands of European competition and already trusted by the head coach from their time together in France.

Ipswich spend big to stay up

Since clinching promotion from the Championship, Ipswich have refused to tiptoe into the Premier League. They have spent heavily, moved quickly and backed O'Neil with a squad designed not just to survive, but to compete.

Enciso and Ouattara are the latest pieces in that rebuild, two players entering their prime years, both already aligned with the manager’s methods. The fees are sizeable, the contracts long, the intent unmistakable.

Ipswich are not coming up to make up the numbers.