Ipswich Town homegrown talent Andre Dozzell completes move to Championship with QPR

Queen's Park Rangers have confirmed the signing of Ipswich Town's homegrown midfielder Andre Dozzell with the 22-year-old former England Under-20 international having signed an initial three-year contract at the Sky Bet Championship club.

Town have confirmed the Loftus Road club triggered a buy-out clause to make the transfer happen.

Although it is officially undisclosed it is widely reported to be around the £1 million mark, before add-ons are included.

Dozzell, the son of former Spurs and Town player Jason, leaves the club he has been with since the age of eight having made 93 first-team appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals.

Following on from Gwion Edwards going to Wigan Athletic, he becomes the 10th player from the squad Paul Cook inherited from Paul Lambert to leave the club, following the Blues' disappointing ninth-placed finish.

Dozzell told the QPR website: “I am buzzing and just can’t wait to get going.

“I have been at Ipswich since I was eight and I will always have love for the club but I felt now was the right time to take this step in my career.

“This takes me out of my comfort zone and I just think it is the right time. My dad had good years at Ipswich but I’m my own player and I think it was time for me to move on.

“I spoke to Les (Ferdinand) and the gaffer (Mark Warburton). They sold it to me. I was aware they were tracking me for quite some time. It’s always nice to feel wanted, so it was easy for me.

“They told me how they saw me fitting into their plans and how they can improve me – obviously there are a lot of improvements to be made, so it is exciting to come and play here. This was the right step for me.”

Ipswich-born Dozzell, who had attended Copleston High School, made more League One appearances (43) than any other Town player in 2020/21.

He famously scored an equalising goal his senior debut, at Sheffield Wednesday on April 16, 2016, as a 16-year-old to match the achievement of his father at the same age back in 1984.

Meanwhile, Town are expected to announce West Brom's young former England youth international midfielder Rekeem Harper as their third summer signing in what would likely be seen as Dozzell's replacement.

Read more: Blues miss out on striker to League One rival