Ipswich Town Strengthens Premier League Ambitions with Enciso and Ouattara Signings
Ipswich Town have underlined their Premier League intent with a double raid on Strasbourg, sealing big-money moves for Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara on long-term deals.
The Tractor Boys have brought back Paraguay winger Enciso, 22, and added Ivorian midfielder Ouattara, 20, with both players signing five-year contracts after working under Gary O'Neil in France. The combined fee could climb to £47.3m, a statement outlay for a club only just back in the top flight.
Enciso returns to familiar ground
For Enciso, this is no leap into the unknown. He knows the walk from the tunnel, the noise from the stands, the feel of Portman Road when it starts to crackle.
The former Brighton forward spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Ipswich before heading to Strasbourg, playing his part as the club surged back into the Premier League. Now he is back for good.
"I am so happy to be back at Ipswich Town," he 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."
Ipswich know exactly what they are getting: a direct, inventive wide player who already understands O'Neil’s demands and the rhythm of English football. This is not a gamble on potential; it is a reunion built on trust.
Ouattara adds steel and stride
If Enciso brings familiarity, Ouattara brings fresh energy.
The 20-year-old midfielder has already packed plenty into a short career, making 45 appearances in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg and helping them reach the Uefa Conference League semi-finals last season. He arrives with European experience and the kind of physical, box-to-box profile that tends to travel well to the Premier League.
"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.
O'Neil knows his game inside out from their time together in France. Ipswich are not just collecting names; they are assembling players who can slot straight into a defined system.
Spending with purpose
Since climbing out of the Championship, Ipswich have not tiptoed into the Premier League. They have charged in.
The club’s spending now sits at around £150m since promotion, with Enciso and Ouattara taking them to 12 major signings in that period. It is aggressive, but it is also targeted: youth, resale value, and familiarity with the head coach’s methods.
Portman Road will feel different when the new season starts. New division, new expectations, new faces. Enciso knows the stage. Ouattara is about to discover it. The question now is simple: can this rebuilt Ipswich side turn heavy investment into top-flight staying power?
