Ipswich Town agree fee for Strasbourg forward Julio Enciso
Undisclosed transfer marks return to Portman Road for 22-year-old, who previously spent a loan spell with the club during their Championship campaign.
Ipswich Town have reached an agreement to sign 22-year-old Paraguay international forward Julio Enciso from Strasbourg. The move marks a reunion for the player and manager Gary O’Neil, who previously coached Enciso at the French club last season. O’Neil, appointed at Portman Road this summer after stints at Bournemouth and Wolves, had pushed for an early return of the forward to the Premier League side.
The transfer represents a return to Portman Road for Enciso, who spent a six-month loan spell with Ipswich from Brighton in 2025. The 22-year-old impressed during his previous tenure, leading to the current permanent arrangement. While the exact fee remains undisclosed, those involved believe the deal will account for a sizeable portion of Ipswich’s remaining transfer budget.
For Strasbourg, the transaction is expected to yield a substantial profit on the £13.8m they paid for Enciso last summer. The player was highly regarded at the French club, which shares ownership with Chelsea through the BlueCo group. Officials at Strasbourg had previously viewed Enciso as a potential future move to Stamford Bridge, though this deal sees him head north to England instead.
This acquisition serves as Ipswich’s tenth major signing of the summer window, following their promotion from the Championship. The club has already secured the services of Daizen Maeda from Celtic, Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City, and Emersonn from Toulouse. Emersonn’s £24m fee currently stands as the club record, and it remains unclear whether the Enciso deal will surpass that figure.
Ipswich are set to begin their Premier League campaign at home against Sunderland on 22 August. The addition of Enciso adds depth to the squad as they prepare for life in the top flight, with O’Neil looking to build on the momentum from their recent promotion.
