Ipswich Town return to the top flight for the 2026/27 Premier League season with one clear objective: avoid relegation after suffering the drop in 2024/25.
The Tractor Boys endured a miserable campaign on that occasion, finishing 16 points from safety as they dropped straight back into the Championship. Kieran McKenna viewed the experience as a valuable learning curve and immediately fired Ipswich back to the Premier League, only to then surprisingly depart in June.
Gary O’Neil, the former Wolves and Bournemouth boss, has now taken the reins and will be tasked with keeping Ipswich in the top flight. The Englishman will need to draw on everything he has learned throughout his career to date if his new employers are to avoid another brief stay in the Premier League.
Read on for the latest Ipswich stats ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season, including their opening fixtures, transfer business, tactical approach, key players and predicted lineup.
Ipswich opening fixtures 2026/27 Premier League
Ipswich’s first game back in the Premier League is at home to last season’s surprise package Sunderland, who finished 7th in their first season back in the big time.
Ipswich then travel to Manchester United, a team they haven’t beaten in any capacity since 1997. The matches don’t get any easier, with the Tractors boys then hosting Liverpool before a visit to last season’s Conference League winners Crystal Palace.
The Suffolk side round off the opening five games with a visit to Merseyside where they lock horns with Everton.
| Date | Opponent | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 22nd August | Sunderland (H) | 3pm |
| Sunday 30th August | Manchester United (A) | 4.30pm |
| Friday 4th September | Liverpool (H) | 8pm |
| Saturday 12th September | Crystal Palace (A) | 3pm |
| Saturday 19th September | Everton (H) | 3pm |
Ipswich’s key players for 2026/27 Premier League
Ipswich top Premier League Golden Boot contender: Emersonn
- Key stat: Ipswich spent a club record £24m on the striker, who will be the first Brazilian to play for the club.
Four Ipswich players scored 10+ goals in the Championship last season, but the club knows that the Premier League represents a significant step up in quality, having only scored 36 goals in 2024/25. So, in comes Brazilian forward Emersonn for a club record fee of £24m. The 22-year-old wasn’t exactly prolific last season, scoring just six goals for Toulouse, but hopes are high that he has the talent and ability to hit the ground running.
Ipswich primary playmaker: Daizen Maeda
- Key stat: Daizen Maeda scored 14 goals and recorded six assists for Scottish Champions Celtic last season.
Ipswich have secured the services of Daizen Maeda, who will be a key creative force in this new look side. The Japanese international arrives on the back of helping Celtic to 10 trophies and scoring 79 goals in 212 games. He accrued 20 league goal involvements last season, including the decisive second goal in the dramatic final day victory over Hearts; and let’s not forget that stunning overhead kick against Rangers. Upon signing for his new side, Maeda said: “My aim will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team – I will always run and give everything that I have.”
Ipswich card magnet and top tackler: Azor Matusiwa
- Key stat: Azor Matusiwa made a club high 91 tackles in the Championship last season, more than double that of any of his teammates.
Ipswich have bite and steel in their midfield in Azor Matusiwa, whose work rate, positioning, experience, and tenacity could prove vital next season, especially when they are without the ball. Last season, he made 91 tackles, 75 interceptions, and won 144 possessions in the final third. The Dutchman is certainly not afraid to make his presence felt, having picked up nine yellow cards in the second-tier last season.
Ipswich rising star: Abdul Fatawu
- Key stat: The winger scored nine goals and recorded seven assists for Leicester City in the Championship last season.
Ipswich have spent £20m on winger Abdul Fatawu, who could well prove to be an electric addition on the flanks. Fatawu, 22, contributed nine goals and seven goals for Leicester City in the Championship last term, creditable numbers given the club’s poor season. He’s not shy when it comes to shooting, firing in a whopping 112 shots in 2025/26 – the second most in the second-tier – and ranked top in take-ons attempted (264) and completed (115). Fatawu has since gone on to play four times for Ghana at the World Cup, and will now look to light up the Premier League.
Ipswich 2026 summer transfers
Ipswich have had a huge squad overhaul this summer, spending £100m+ on 10+ new faces. Even more new arrivals are still expected. Expect the starting 11 to look almost unrecognisable to last season.
Prominent incomings include a club record £22m on young striker Emersonn, who they will hope hits the ground running. Daizen Maeda has been lured south of the border from Celtic, while £20m has been spent on fellow winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City.
Issa Diop arrives from Fulham to bolster Ipswich’s defence, as does defensive midfielder Sasa Lukic. Florentino Luis joins from Burnley to strengthen the club’s midfield options.
Transfers out of the club include goalkeeper Arijanet Muric to Sassuolo, defender Elkan Baggott to Millwall, and Wes Burns to Leicester City. Meanwhile, Ashley Young has retired.
| Incomings | Outgoings |
|---|---|
| Daizen Maeda (Celtic) | Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo) |
| Emerson (Toulouse) | Elkan Baggott (Millwall) |
| Julio Enciso (Strasbourg) | Wes Burns (Leicester City) |
| Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City) | Conor Chaplin (free transfer, Leicester City) |
| Kjell Scherpen (Union SG) | Conor Townsend (free transfer, West Brom) |
| Issa Diop (Fulham) | Ashley Young (retired) |
| Fiorentino Luis (Burnley) | |
| Sasa Lukic (Fulham) | |
| Chuba Akom (Ajax) | |
| Cedric Kipre (Stade de Reims) | |
| Kayne van Oevelen (FC Volendam) |
Ipswich tactical analysis and formation
Ipswich’s team stats (average per game in 2025/26 Championship):
- Corners: 6.89
- Shots on target: 5.09
- Shots on target conceded: 3.57
- Offsides: 2.04
New boss Gary O’Neil will have a plethora of decisions to chew over as he bids to settle on a starting 11, a sizeable task given the multitude of new arrivals.
O’Neill has yet to take charge of a competitive clash, but going off his time at Strasbourg, he could possibly favour a 4-2-3-1 formation in the early stages of the season.
Emersonn could be handed an immediate Premier League start after Ipswich splashed the cash to bring him to Suffolk. Fellow new arrivals Daizen Maeda and Abdul Fatawu will add goal threat and creativity on the wings.
Sasa Lukic, another new face, is also expected to slot straight into central midfield alongside Azor Matusiwa. Although, Luis Florentino could push for a starting berth. Marcelino Nunez and Anis Mehmeti will battle for the remaining midfield spot, depending on the shape O’Neil opts for.
Kjell Scherpen, standing at 6ft 9in, is expected go straight into the starting XI following the goalkeeper’s move from Union SG.
Centre-backs Issa Diop and Dara O’Shea will be flanked by Leif Davis as left-back and Darnell Furlong on the right.
Ipswich manager analysis
Ipswich supporters, players, and everyone associated with the club will have been gutted by Kieran McKenna’s departure after he delivered three promotions in four seasons, twice guiding the club into the Premier League.
It’s now up to his replacement, former Norwich City player Gary O’Neil, to make his own mark and to ultimately establish Ipswich in the top-flight.
O’Neil left Strasbourg after just six months to take the Ipswich job, having guided the French side to eighth place and the Conference League semi-finals.
O’Neil can draw on his previous experience of keeping Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League. He’ll want his players to express themselves on the ball and adapt to different situations, but avoiding the drop will be the main goal.
| Manager | Team | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary O’Neil | Ipswich Town |