Roland Cutinho
Former Manchester United star Axel Tuanzebe joins Kieran McKenna’s Ipswitch Town amid interests from several clubs
Championship club Ipswich Town have officially announced the signing of Axel Tuanzebe after he was released by Manchester United this summer.
Despite interest from clubs like Real Betis, the 25-year-old has decided to stay in England. The centre-back has inked a one-year contract with the Blues, with the possibility of extending it for another year.
The former United academy player spent the previous season on loan with Stoke City in the Championship and is now making a return to the second tier as he seeks to revive his career.
The English defender became part of the Red Devils youth setup in 2006 and later made his senior team debut in January 2017.
The Academy star, born in the DR Congo, accumulated 37 appearances in various competitions for Man United during five seasons of loan spells.
His most recent appearance for the first team was in the 2021 Europa League final against Villarreal. Tuanzebe had three separate loan stints with Aston Villa before he moved to Napoli for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
During the latter part of the previous season, he played for Stoke but was hampered by injuries, featuring in only five matches.
Although the Englishman engaged in talks with Sheffield United and Luton Town, he ultimately decided to sign with Ipswich. He had been training with his new club before finalising the move.
Manager Kieran McKenna, who has additionally brought in Brandon Williams from Man United on a season-long loan, is confident that the young defender can play an important role in the club’s upcoming season.
As quoted by Ipswitch’s official website, the manager said:
“He’s a defender with a lot of experience and pedigree at a young age and a lot of qualities as a player and as a person. He’s fast, strong in one-on-one situations, is a good communicator and carries the ball well. We think he will bring a lot to the team and to the Club.”
Ipswich appears to have made an excellent move by signing a player with the potential to excel in the championship.
During his time with Aston Villa, the defender played a key role in their Premier League promotion, and his new club would be counting on him to rediscover that form as they aim for a return to the top flight.
The main concern revolves around Tuanzebe’s fitness record, as he has faced injury setbacks in the past. However, if he can maintain his fitness, the Blues are gaining a physically strong, fast, and skilled player.
Furthermore, his existing rapport with McKenna makes this signing even more sensible. The interest from various other clubs also highlights his positive reputation in the football world.
Given that Ipswich secured his services for free, it’s likely that many of their fans will be pleased with this signing, and he could play a significant role throughout the campaign.
Despite Tuanzebe’s efforts to maintain fitness, his lack of a full pre-season and absence from competitive matches this season will likely place him at a disadvantage compared to his teammates.
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It seems highly unlikely that he will be directly incorporated into the starting XI in the club’s upcoming match against Sheffield Wednesday at the Hillsborough Stadium on the 16th of September.
Man United fans will also be happy to see one of their former players get a chance to build a new career in a completely supportive environment.
