Ipswich Sign Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara From Strasbourg

Ipswich Town have signed Paraguay winger Julio Enciso and Ivory Coast midfielder Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg, adding two players with previous experience under manager Gary O'Neil. BBC Sport reports that both have agreed five-year contracts at Portman Road, with their combined transfer fees potentially rising to £47.3m.

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Enciso, 22, returns to a club he already knows. He spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Ipswich during a three-year spell with Brighton, before later moving to Strasbourg. His return follows Ipswich's promotion from the Championship last season and reunites him with O'Neil after the pair worked together in France.

The Paraguay international said he was happy to be back and had enjoyed his earlier loan at the club. He also highlighted Ipswich's promotion to the Premier League and the chance to work with O'Neil again as reasons for his excitement about the move. His familiarity with both the manager and Portman Road gives the signing a clear connection to Ipswich's recent past.

Ouattara arrives with substantial French top-flight experience despite being only 20. BBC Sport says the Ivorian made 45 league appearances for Strasbourg and was part of the team that reached last season's UEFA Conference League semi-finals. He described himself as young but already equipped with useful experience and said he was eager to meet his new teammates and the club's supporters.

The two deals extend an unusually active summer for Ipswich. According to the BBC's figures, the promoted club's spending has now reached £150m, while Enciso and Ouattara take the number of major signings to 12. Their arrival therefore represents both a sizeable financial commitment and another step in the squad changes made for the return to the top flight.

Ipswich begin their Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on 22 August. The five-year terms give both new arrivals long contracts, while the potential £47.3m combined cost underlines their importance within the club's recruitment programme. For Enciso, the move is a return to familiar surroundings; for Ouattara, it is a first opportunity to bring his Strasbourg experience into English football.