Ipswich Town: Goalkeeper Christian Walton signs contract extension
Goalkeeper Christian Walton has signed a new contract with Ipswich Town, having revealed his pride at making his Premier League debut with the club.
The 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal, extending his stay at Portman Road until at least the summer of 2026.
Walton moved to Suffolk in the summer of 2021, initially arriving as a loan signing from Brighton & Hove Albion under previous manager Paul Cook before making his move to the Blues permanent the following January.
After being a key player in Kieran McKenna’s side which achieved promotion from Sky Bet League One as runners-up in 2022/23, it looked like he would be moving on this summer to seek first-team football, having ended up losing his place in the side following a pre-season injury.
Walton, who has made a total of 91 appearances for the club, watched on as Vaclav Hladky established himself as a key player as the Blues completed back-to-back promotions to the Premier League by sealing a second-placed finish in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Truro-born player who has been capped by England at U19, U20 and U21 levels, was given the last minute of the final game of the season as a token gesture as Town defeated Huddersfield before celebrating their elevation to the top flight, which added to his three cup starts.
But despite the Tractor Boys splashing out a reported £8 million to bring in Kosovo international Aro Muric to the club from Burnley over the summer, Walton remained in Suffolk and was given a surprise start in the Blues’ Premier League opener at home to Liverpool, following an injury to the former.
Walton was back on the bench for the following weekend’s trip to Manchester City before starting the Carabao (EFL) Cup exit at AFC Wimbledon ahead of Muric taking over for the league visit of Fulham.
“I’m delighted to have extended my contract with the club,” former Plymouth Argyle youngster Walton told Town’s website.
“I’ve loved my time here since signing on loan in 2021 and to have been part of the journey to the Premier League, winning back-to-back promotions with a brilliant group of players, has been really special.
“Making my Premier League debut against Liverpool on the opening day of the season was a proud day for me and I am pleased to have committed my future to the club further.”
He becomes the second player to have signed a new deal at the club over the international break, with the announcement following hot on the heels of Wes Burns’ earlier.
Town are now preparing to resume their Premier League campaign with back-to-back away games on the south coast, beginning at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday before taking on Southampton the following weekend (both 3pm).
