In a transfer move highlighting the strategic maneuvering often seen after clubs drop a division, Ivorian international defender Cédric Kipré is reportedly set to join Ipswich Town.
The 28-year-old centre-back, who spent the past season with Stade de Reims, is expected to move to the English Championship club on a loan deal for the upcoming 2024/25 season. The agreement reportedly includes a key financial clause: a mandatory purchase option valued at €4.5 million, which would be triggered only if Ipswich achieves immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
This move is particularly noteworthy given the recent fortunes of both clubs involved. Stade de Reims were relegated from Ligue 1 at the conclusion of the past season, while Ipswich Town similarly dropped out of the Premier League after just one year in the top flight. Kipré`s transfer thus sees him swapping one recently relegated environment for another, albeit across different leagues and countries – a rather efficient form of footballing property exchange, perhaps.
Kipré joined Reims just last summer on a free transfer from English side West Bromwich Albion. In his single season in France, he made 28 Ligue 1 appearances and featured in the Coupe de France final defeat. Despite being a product of the PSG academy, the 2023/24 season was his first taste of senior French top-flight football.
However, the defender is exceptionally well-acquainted with the English Championship. Prior to his move to Reims, Kipré amassed a significant 174 appearances in the second tier across spells with Wigan Athletic, Barnsley, and West Brom. This extensive experience makes him a known quantity in the division Ipswich is returning to, providing a potential advantage in adapting quickly to its notoriously demanding nature. Bringing in a player with a proven track record in the league you`re re-entering is, to put it mildly, a sound technical decision.
His performances over the past year also earned him his first senior cap for Ivory Coast in June, underlining his recent form and development.
Still under contract with Reims until 2027, the structure of the deal places the financial gain for the French club squarely on Ipswich`s performance in the coming season. For Ipswich, securing a player with Kipré`s Championship pedigree, initially on loan but with a clear path to a permanent transfer tied directly to their primary objective (promotion), appears to be a calculated and performance-incentivised recruitment strategy as they aim for a swift return to the Premier League. It’s a case of `you succeed, you pay,` which adds a fascinating layer to the traditional loan move.
This transfer represents a key piece of business for Ipswich as they retool their squad for the Championship challenge, leveraging Kipré`s extensive knowledge of the league in the hope that he can contribute significantly to their immediate ambition of climbing back into the top flight.
