Arabic version: إيبسويتش تاون يتعاقد مع عيسى ديوب من فولهام

According to BBC News, Ipswich Town have signed Morocco defender Issa Diop from Fulham for £8.5m. The 29-year-old has agreed a contract running until the summer of 2030.

Diop joins an Ipswich squad promoted from the Championship last season, bringing 173 Premier League appearances from spells with Fulham and West Ham. He played five matches for Morocco during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

“I’m excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town,” Diop said. “I know how big the club is and have enjoyed all of the conversations I have had before making the move. I know this is the right place for me.”

He joined West Ham from Toulouse in 2018 and spent four seasons with the Hammers before moving to Fulham in a £15m deal in 2022. Diop made 96 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, although he started only eight Premier League games last season.

Diop is Ipswich’s sixth signing of the summer. The club recently acquired Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester for £20m, while striker Emersonn arrived from Toulouse for a club-record fee of about £26m. Cedric Kipre and Chuba Akpom signed permanently after successful loans, and goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen joined from FC Volendam.