Ipswich Town sign Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Evans as second summer signing
Two-times League One title winning midfielder Lee Evans is the second signing of the summer for Ipswich Town after agreeing to join on a free transfer when his Wigan Athletic contract expires on July 1.
The 26-year-old four times Welsh capped player completed his medical at Portman Road today before signing a three-year deal that will reunite him with manager Paul Cook.
It was under Cook that he won the 2017/18 League One title for the second time while on loan with Wigan from then parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers. His first came with Wolves in 2013/14.
Evans, a central midfielder, started his senior career with hometown club Newport County after being released from Bristol Rovers as a 15-year-old – making 25 appearances for The Exiles, scoring three goals.
He joined Wolves for a reported £200,000 fee in 2013 and after lifting the title with Wigan, Sheffield United paid £750,000 for his services in the Championship.
A further loan spell at Wigan followed at the start of the 2018/19 season before a permanent move to the Latics was sealed in January 2019.
His arrival makes it two signings in two days for Town, with fellow Welshman Wes Burn having joined from Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee as Cook's first new addition.
"This is a huge football club and it’s a massive honour to be here. It’s been a great day for me, signing for a club like this and I’m already looking forward to pre-season," Lee told iFollow Ipswich.
"I’ve had a few chats with the manager and he expressed his desire to bring me in. It’s an exciting move for me and having seen the club today, with the facilities, I can’t wait to get going.
"I’ve played for the manager before and he has shown a lot of faith in me in bringing me here in a season when there is only one aim and that is to get promoted. That’s a big compliment to me and I can’t thank him enough.
"Hopefully I will be part of a successful team because that’s what everyone associated with Ipswich wants."
Cook said he is absolutely delighted to be reunited with Evans at Portman Road.
“Lee has got everything a midfielder needs,” he told the club website.
“His energy levels are great, he covers the distances that midfielders need to in the game now. He’s good on the ball and he has the physicality.
“He’s got a terrific attitude to the game and what’s most important, he’s a great lad.
“I’m thrilled we have got him here, to sign a player of his class and calibre is fantastic for the supporters and for this football club.
“I think the supporters should be excited about the players we have signed and about the players we are hopefully about to sign.”
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