Ipswich Town Sign Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara

Ipswich Town’s Premier League return has taken on an even bolder look, with the club sealing the double signing of Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg on long-term deals.

The Tractor Boys have moved decisively, landing Paraguay winger Enciso, 22, and Ivorian midfielder Ouattara, 20, on five-year contracts in a deal that could rise to £47.3m. Both arrive with a crucial advantage: they already know exactly what Gary O’Neil demands.

Enciso returns to familiar ground

For Enciso, this is not a leap into the unknown. It is a homecoming of sorts.

The forward spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Portman Road from Brighton, playing his part as Ipswich surged back into the Premier League before heading to Strasbourg. That brief spell clearly left its mark.

"I am so happy to be back at Ipswich Town," he said. "I really enjoyed my time on loan at the club and I was so happy to see them win promotion back to the Premier League last season.

"I worked with the manager in France last season and the chance to play for him again at a great club like Ipswich is one I'm very excited for."

Enciso’s familiarity with the stadium, the dressing room and the expectations around the club should allow him to hit the ground running. The added layer is his recent spell under O’Neil in France, giving Ipswich a player who already fits the tactical blueprint.

Ouattara brings European pedigree

On the other side of the deal, Ouattara arrives with serious mileage for a 20-year-old.

The midfielder made 45 appearances in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg and was a key part of the side that battled its way to the Uefa Conference League semi-finals last season. That kind of European experience at his age is rare, and Ipswich have clearly paid for potential as much as proven output.

"I am still young but have had some good experiences already and I can't wait to meet the fans and my team-mates and get started," Ouattara said.

He steps into a squad that has been aggressively upgraded since promotion. Ipswich are not just planning to survive at the top level; they are building a group expected to compete.

Ipswich’s spending signals intent

Since climbing out of the Championship last season, Ipswich have spent around £150m, with Enciso and Ouattara taking their tally to 12 major signings.

That is not the profile of a club content with a brief cameo in the Premier League. It is the profile of a club trying to plant its flag and stay.

The question now is simple: with this level of backing and this calibre of recruitment, how high can O’Neil’s Ipswich aim in their first season back among the elite?