'Absolute flying machine' Chiedozie Ogbene will be hoping to hit the ground running with Ipswich
The Ireland international was clocked as the second fastest top-flight player after Tottenham's Micky van de Ven - he was timed as reaching 36.93kph against Fulham last September
Jamie Carragher called Chiedozie Ogbene an "absolute flying machine" in his debut Premier League season.
Now that he's back in English football's top tier, following his move from Luton Town to Ipswich Town, Ogbene wants to hit the ground running for the Tractor Boys.
The Ireland international was clocked as the second fastest top-flight player after Tottenham's Micky van de Ven - he was timed as reaching 36.93kph against Fulham last September.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher hails Chiedozie Ogbene's attacking play on Monday Night Football
"For me, Chiedozie Ogbene has been absolutely outstanding every time I watch him,” Carragher told Sky Sports last February, having been blown away by his performance in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United.
"We know he’s an absolute flying machine. He's not a full-back's dream and the reason I say that is I’ve been there....chasing this fella is the way I used to feel chasing Thierry Henry.
"You look at the top ball carriers in the Premier League and he's in great company.
“I just think it's a fantastic story where he has come from. He played a bit of Gaelic football and had lots of moves to different clubs and he has been a real stand-out.
"When you think of Luton staying in the Premier League, if him and Ross Barkley continue as they are, they have a great chance.”
It didn't work out for the Hatters, who lost Ogbene to a tendon injury he suffered in late March while on Ireland duty against Belgium.
But the ex-Cork City and Limerick starlet is hoping it will be second time lucky with his move to Portman Road.
Heimir Hallgrimsson will beat a regular path there this season after Ogbene today became the latest Irish player to be added to the club's ranks.
The 27-year-old joins Sammie Sczmodics and Dara O'Shea as an early season recruit as Kieran McKenna moves to bolster the club's hopes of Premier League survival after the much-heralded back to back promotions of the last two years.
Ireland boss Hallgrimsson, who names his first squad tomorrow for the upcoming Nations League ties against England and Greece, will also be able to cast his eye over Irish qualified pair Jack Taylor and Marcus Harness when he makes the trip to Suffolk.
Striker Liam Delap has also been linked with an allegiance switch despite representing England at under-21 level.
Had winger Wes Burns not suffered a hamstring injury in the opening day loss to Liverpool then perhaps the Fermanagh man may have looked elsewhere.
But Ogbene's impressive first season in the Premier League meant that when McKenna went looking, the 20-times capped international was top of the list of potential signings.
"I’m very excited and feel lucky to have this opportunity to play in the Premier League again," Ogbene said. "It’s an opportunity I had to grab with both hands and I can’t wait to be involved as soon as possible.
"I’ve had very positive chats with the manager and for someone to believe in me that I could play at this level again means a lot to me and my family.
"I know what he wants from me and the role I will play and I’m here to be a positive addition to the squad as we look to achieve our goals."
Signing the versatile right-sided player for £8m from Luton is good business for Ipswich, who have spent over £100m in their mission to establish themselves after finishing second to Leicester City in the Championship and reaching the promised land for the first time in 22 years.
McKenna immediately acknowledged that the squad and his tactics would have to evolve. “We are going to have to adapt again,” he said.
“It’s a massive jump up and we will try to keep the best things of what we have and bring them to a completely different level.”
Ogbene's all-action approach - whether he's playing as a wing-back, on the right wing or in a more central attacking role - should fit in with McKenna's positive, direct style of play and he has signed a four-year deal, becoming the club's 12th signing since their promotion.
Born in Lagos in Nigeria, Ogbene moved with his family to Cork when he was seven and played Gaelic Football for Nemo Rangers to under-21 level while lining out for a number of Munster Senior League football clubs.
Cork City came calling and Ogbene signed in the summer of 2015 and, in a rapid rise, he won the Enda McGuill Cup with the Leesiders' under-19s before he came off the bench for Karl Sheppard in the 2016 FAI Cup final victory over Dundalk.
Ogbene joined Limerick two months later and, in January 2018, got his cross-channel move when he joined Brentford. He made two Championship appearances before the end of that season.
His next port of call was League One with Rotherham in the summer of 2019 and he was very influential in the Millers' successful promotion push, before winning the EFL Trophy with the club in 2022.
Ogbene's ascent continued with his move to newly-promoted Luton Town on a free transfer last summer and he played 30 times for the Hatters in the top flight last term, including 20 starts, scoring four goals.
"I am extremely happy and blessed to be here," tweeted Ogbene. "I hope I can help bring great joy and success to this Town for many years to come."
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