Ipswich Town have clinched a swift return to the Premier League, sealing automatic promotion with a decisive 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the Championship season. The win not only fulfilled the requirement of matching Millwall's result at Oxford but also highlighted manager Kieran McKenna's ability to engineer a second promotion in three years, adding a third promotion to his résumé in just four seasons. Unlike his earlier successes, this campaign demanded that McKenna rebuild a squad that had been through a painful relegation, re‑shaping both personnel and playing philosophy.
Two seasons ago, Ipswich were the surprise package that defied expectations, holding off the likes of Leeds United and Southampton to finish second in their first season back in the second tier. Back then, the club benefited from substantial parachute payments, similar to those enjoyed by Leeds and Southampton, and many pundits tipped them as the favourites to bounce straight back to the top flight.
This season, however, the financial cushion was less generous and the pressure to deliver was palpable. The club adopted a more measured, pragmatic approach to promotion, focusing on consistency rather than the high‑octane, flamboyant style that characterised their 2023‑24 campaign.
McKenna's name has been linked with a string of high‑profile jobs since his double‑promotion heroics. In the summer of 2024, clubs such as Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United were mentioned in speculative reports, and even after Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League, Celtic, Tottenham, West Ham and Bournemouth surfaced as potential destinations. Despite the allure of those offers, McKenna chose to remain at Portman Road, a decision that paid off as Ipswich secured promotion, albeit through a campaign that often felt more like a grind than a celebration. Statistically, the 2024‑25 season was a step back from the record‑breaking 2023‑24 campaign.
Ipswich amassed 84 points compared with 96 the previous year, and their longest winning run was limited to four games. Goal output fell from 92 to 80, while defensive solidity improved, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Christian Walton, who helped the side lead the league in big chances missed (84 before the final match). Strikers George Hirst and Ivan Azon struggled to find the net, combining for just 16 goals, whereas Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke contributed 12 and 16 goals respectively, often playing at different times due to squad rotation. Only two matches were won after going behind, both occurring in April, underscoring the difficulty of overturning deficits against increasingly savvy opponents.
After back‑to‑back promotions from League One and the Championship in McKenna's first two full seasons, the club endured a humbling Premier League stint last year, winning just four games and finishing second from bottom. That relegation triggered a wave of departures, including Liam Delap’s £30 million move to Chelsea and the exits of several stalwarts from the double‑promotion squad.
The summer transfer window saw ten notable arrivals, but seven players also left the club. Among the departures, Omari Hutchinson fetched a club‑record £37.5 million to join Nottingham Forest, while captain Sam Morsy mutually terminated his contract to pursue a move to Kuwait. Academy graduate Luke Woolfenden headed to Coventry City, Nathan Broadhead returned to his roots at Wrexham, and Conor Chaplin was loaned to Portsmouth on deadline day.
These moves were not universally popular among the fanbase, raising questions about who would step up to fill the void left by the outgoing talent. New signings such as midfielder Azor Matusiwa and right‑back Darnell Furlong quickly became regulars, with Furlong adding a dangerous long‑throw to Ipswich’s arsenal.
However, winger Kasey McAteer struggled to adapt until the season’s closing months, and Norwegian teenager Sindre Walle Egeli needed time to settle after his £17.5 million transfer set a new Championship record. A surprising late‑window addition was Marcelino Núñez, who became the first player in almost a quarter of a century to move directly from rivals Norwich City to Ipswich, intensifying the East Anglian rivalry. The early part of the season was marked by a slow start; Ipswich did not record their first win until the fifth league game, a 5‑0 demolition of Sheffield United in which Philogene netted a hat‑trick.
Autumn brought a mixture of results, including a long‑awaited East Anglian derby victory – the first in 16 years – but also back‑to‑back defeats to Middlesbrough and Charlton. The team responded with consecutive 4‑1 away wins at QPR and Swansea, showing glimpses of the attacking flair that fans had come to love. As the new year arrived, Ipswich began to challenge the league’s top two, securing important wins against Coventry and Middlesbrough. December’s home and away victories against Coventry highlighted the potential of a fully firing side, and by early 2026 the club enjoyed its longest winning streak, propelling them into second place.
Yet inconsistency resurfaced in February, with only one win from four matches and a painful 5‑3 loss to Wrexham after leading 3‑2. That defeat came just a week after Wrexham eliminated Ipswich from the FA Cup, dropping the club to fourth and eight points behind the leaders despite having games in hand. January saw the arrival of Anis Mehmeti from Bristol City and a loan deal for Dan Neil from Sunderland, but promotion hopes were still under scrutiny. Ipswich answered with a nine‑game unbeaten run, highlighted by a statement 2‑0 victory at Norwich in mid‑April that restored them to second place with a two‑point cushion over Millwall and two games in hand.
Nevertheless, the unbeaten run included frustrating draws against Leicester at home and Stoke away, while a hard‑fought draw with Millwall demonstrated the fine margins that defined the season. The final stretch of the campaign was a roller‑coaster. A 2‑2 draw with Middlesbrough, a comeback win at Charlton, and nervy draws at West Brom and Southampton set the stage for the decisive final‑day clash with QPR.
Ipswich’s 3‑0 triumph secured second place and automatic promotion, allowing the Portman Road faithful to celebrate another ascent to the top tier. Looking ahead, the club must assess whether it is better prepared for the Premier League this time around. Players who were novices during the previous promotion – centre‑back Jacob Greaves, midfielder Jack Taylor and left‑back Leif Davis – have gained valuable experience, but additional quality and depth will be essential.
Early recruitment will be crucial, and McKenna may use the club’s upgraded training facilities as an incentive to attract players who fit his tactical vision. Ipswich will likely study the approaches of clubs like Sunderland, who integrated new signings quickly, and Leeds United, who altered their system to maximise home advantage. In the Premier League, Ipswich won only once at home two seasons ago and took until early November to secure their first top‑flight victory. This summer promises to be busy and exciting for supporters as the club prepares for another demanding campaign, hoping to avoid the nervousness that characterised their recent promotion push and to establish themselves firmly in the elite division.