Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Julio Enciso from Strasbourg.
The Athletic reported on Monday Ipswich were set to confirm the permanent signing of Enciso after the two clubs agreed a package worth more than €30million including add-ons and a future sell-on clause. The deal also sees 20-year-old Abdoul Ouattara move in the same direction.
Ipswich announced the arrivals of Enciso and Ouattara on Monday, with both players signing five-year deals through to 2031.
The Athletic reported on August 12 that Ipswich had agreed a deal in principle to sign the Paraguay international.
The move marks a return to Ipswich for Enciso, 22, having spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Portman Road from Brighton & Hove Albion. He scored twice in 13 appearances but was unable to help the side avoid relegation to the Championship. The transfer also reunites him with Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil, who spent six months at Strasbourg after being appointed as Liam Rosenior’s replacement in January. O’Neil replaced Kieran McKenna in this Ipswich dugout this summer.
Enciso joined Strasbourg, the sister club of Premier League team Chelsea, last year, signing a four-year deal. He had a successful campaign in France, appearing 42 times in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists.
“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,” Enciso said in a press release. “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.”
Ouattara, 20, is a product of Strasbourg’s academy and is capable of operating in midfield or at either full-back position. He made his first-team debut in October 2024 and has gone on to make 62 appearances for the team.
Ouattara came through Strasbourg’s youth system (Simon Hofmann/Getty Images)
“The Premier League is the best league in the world and as soon as I knew the opportunity was there, to play in England under a manager I have already enjoyed working with, I jumped at it,” Ouattara said in a press release.
Enciso and Ouattara become Ipswich’s 12th and 13th signings of the summer as they prepare for their return to the Premier League New arrivals at the club include Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop from Fulham, Florentino Luis from Burnley, Chuba Akpom from Ajax and Emersonn from Toulouse.
Ipswich get their Premier League campaign underway on Saturday when they host Sunderland.