BREAKING NEWS: Ipswich Town look back on £2 million deal with serious regret

The season of 2018-19 was a terrible one for Ipswich Town as they were relegated to League One after a 17-year stay in the Championship.

A tumultuous previous summer led to the Tractor Boys’ downfall, and the £2 million double signing of Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala was one of the key deals that didn’t work out.

Having been signed by manager Paul Hurst, neither player met the heights they showcased at Shrewsbury Town and would both leave the club in 2022 following an underwhelming four years.

Nolan and Nsiala were stars at Shrewsbury Town

If you ask Shrewsbury fans their favourite season in recent memory, they would all likely say their League One campaign of 2017-18. Two men who were key in helping Salop reach the Play-Off and EFL Trophy final that season were Toto Nsiala and Jon Nolan.

One was a rock at the back, the other a silky midfielder who could score and create chances at will.

A player hampered by injuries, that season was the highlight of Nolan’s career. A stunning goal at The Valley and a crucial finish in blizzard-like conditions against Scunthorpe United are moments that will live forever with the player and fans alike.

Nsiala followed suit and created a superb partnership with veteran centre-back Mat Sadler, which saw Shrewsbury concede just 39 goals as they finished third in the league.

A defeat in the play-off final against Rotherham United would be an unfortunate way to end their Blue and Amber career and just two days later, they saw their manager move to East Anglia.

Nolan and Nsiala underwhelmed at Ipswich

With Hurst plying his trade at Portman Road, he was keen to bring some of his side from Shropshire. Two clear choices that represented potential for the future were Nsiala and Nolan, and with that, Hurst duly secured the aforementioned £2 million double deal.

Based on the previous campaign, this transfer felt like it would be a good one for both parties. But the figure Ipswich forked out was never showcased in performances by either player in their four years at Portman Road.

Both featured heavily in the early stages of their Ipswich tenure, with Hurst keeping faith in them after previous years’ performances. But, after 15 games at the club, Hurst was sacked and new manager Paul Lambert was not fond of either player, as both began having to accept impact roles off the bench.

The relegation to League One was a sorry end to their first year at the club, but it didn’t get any better in the following seasons.

Nolan’s 2019-20 campaign was hampered by injury, and a lack of consistent game time. But, the 2020-21 season was the beginning of the end as he made just 13 appearances and missed out from January onwards after the midfielder fell out with Paul Lambert.

Forced to train with the under-23s, it would get even worse for the Liverpudlian as he suffered a horrible knee injury in March 2021. For the Ipswich board, that would be the final straw, and they terminated his contract with just six months left on his deal.

Nsiala didn’t fare much better. As the Portman Road faithful were highly critical of his lack of ability on the ball, playing a key part as to why they weren’t challenging as high as their aspirations.

A loan at financially stricken Bolton Wanderers in the 2019-20 season was followed up with one and a half years to try to prove his worth in East Anglia. Unfortunately, for the Everton youth product, he was never able to fully cement a spot in the team and fans will now largely remember him for his confrontation with them in his final appearance against Charlton.

With both players ultimately underwhelming, it’s hard not to think the Tractor Boys must seriously regret sanctioning a £2 million deal for the duo.

Ipswich Town must regret double deal

Having joined on the same day, both players would leave within three weeks of each other as Kieran McKenna overhauled the squad.

For Nolan, he hasn’t performed any better since leaving Ipswich. Spells at Tranmere and Bristol Rovers have seen injuries once again hamper him, making just 13 appearances in 18 months. Dropping to the Northern Premier League, hasn’t seen a revival in his career either, as he left Macclesfield after the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.

Central defender Nsiala has enjoyed more fruitful spells at Fleetwood and Burton, who both offered him a chance to continue in League One. Scoring a crucial goal for the Brewers in their win against Leyton Orient as they steered themselves away from relegation.

Looking back, the form the Salop duo showcased in the 2017-18 campaign sold Ipswich Town fans short.

As was the way of many signings in that window, the Tractor Boys board made a bad decision and should have steered clear of the Nolan and Nsiala.

Indeed, looking back, Ipswich must regret sanctioning the £2 million double deal for the duo.