Ipswich Town agree deals for Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg

Ipswich Town have agreed a deal worth more than €30m to sign Paraguay forward Julio Enciso from Strasbourg, with the club also bringing in Ivory Coast winger Abdoul Ouattara from the French side.

The Athletic reports that Ipswich are preparing to announce Enciso’s transfer after the 22-year-old completed his medical. The agreement includes additional payments and a sell-on clause that will give Strasbourg a percentage of any future fee received for the player.

Enciso is expected to sign a five-year contract with Ipswich Town, returning to the club after spending six months there during the second half of the 2024-25 season.

He joined Ipswich on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion and scored twice in 13 appearances. However, his goals were not enough to prevent the club from being relegated.

Enciso will be reunited with Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil, who worked with the forward at Strasbourg last season. O’Neil took charge of Ipswich after the player’s previous loan spell at Portman Road, giving the pair the chance to work together again at a new club.

The Paraguay international joined Strasbourg last season on a four-year contract and enjoyed a successful campaign in France. He played 42 matches in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists.

His record at Strasbourg made him one of the club’s principal attacking players, while his earlier loan spell at Ipswich gave him experience of English football. The permanent move will now return him to a side preparing for another Premier League campaign.

Ipswich have also completed the signing of Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg. The two arrivals become the club’s latest additions as they continue to reshape their squad following their return to the Premier League.

Their recruitment means Ipswich have now signed 13 players since returning to the Premier League. Enciso and Ouattara are therefore the latest members of a significantly rebuilt squad ahead of the new league season.

The club are preparing to begin their Premier League campaign against Sunderland next Saturday. That fixture will be Ipswich’s first opportunity to assess their new-look squad in a competitive match, with both Enciso and Ouattara arriving from the same Strasbourg team.

Enciso’s permanent transfer represents a substantial investment in a player who has already made an impact for Ipswich, despite the team’s difficult previous season. His return also allows him to continue working under O’Neil, with whom he spent last season at Strasbourg.

The agreement for Enciso is structured to include more than the initial transfer fee, with add-ons potentially increasing the total value beyond €30m. Strasbourg will also retain a financial interest in the forward through the sell-on provision included in the deal.

Ouattara’s arrival alongside Enciso further strengthens the connection between Ipswich and Strasbourg. Both players were part of the French club’s squad last season, while Enciso’s 12 goals and nine assists came across 42 appearances in all competitions.

With the two Strasbourg players added to a list of 13 signings since Ipswich returned to the top flight, the club’s preparations are now focused on the opening-day meeting with Sunderland next Saturday.