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Ipswich Town have cemented themselves as automatic promotion contenders next season, and EFL Analysis have outlined how Kieran McKenna’s side could look when the 2025/26 campaign kicks off.
Ipswich Town suffered relegation from the Premier League to the Championship in the 2024/25 season.
After being condemned to another 46-game campaign in the second tier, Kieran McKenna has wasted little time in the summer transfer window as he hunts an automatic promotion for the Tractor Boys.
In one of the biggest deals of the window, Liam Delap left Ipswich for Chelsea in a £30m move, leaving McKenna needing to fill the goalscoring void left by the forward’s departure.
With Ipswich poised for further incomings before the 2025/26 Championship season kicks off, EFL Analysis have outlined how we think the dream Ipswich starting XI could look by the start of the new campaign.
What Ipswich Town’s dream starting XI could look like by start of 2025/26 season
David Button
Ipswich signed goalkeeper David Button from League One side Reading on a free transfer earlier in July.
With number one keeper Arijanet Muric injured with a shoulder knock until August, summer signing Button could line up for McKenna in the opening affair at newly promoted Birmingham City.
Ashley Young
Ipswich signed Ashley Young last week ahead of Championship rivals Watford, beating the Hornets to the full-back by flexing their financial muscles.
Young will be the perfect Sam Morsy replacement at Portman Road, with his years of experience at the top levels of English football for Manchester United, Everton and Aston Villa set to provide a major boost to the Tractor Boys.
Dara O’Shea
Following his move from Burnley, Dara O’Shea featured 35 times in the top flight for Ipswich last term, registering two assists.
O’Shea won 190 duels, made 33 interceptions, and completed 110 recoveries in the Premier League in 2024/25, and his resolute defensive displays will once again be imperative in Ipswich’s promotion push.
Jacob Greaves
O’Shea’s central defensive partner-in-crime, Jacob Greaves, featured 25 times in the top flight for McKenna last season, scoring once with his goal at Liverpool in a 4-1 defeat.
Ipswich signed former West Brom defender Cedric Kipre on loan this season from French side Reims, after Kipre was linked with Sunderland, and the 28-year-old will provide excellent cover for both Greaves and O’Shea this season.
Leif Davis
Leif Davis is another defensive mainstay for Ipswich, and after his commendable 33 appearances against top flight opposition last season, he is primed to dominate Championship left-wingers next term.
Azor Matusiwa
Ipswich signed Azor Matusiwa from Stade Rennais for a fee in the region of £10m this summer, and EFL Analysis’ Chief Football correspondent, Graeme Bailey, revealed recently why Ipswich are so excited by Matusiwa’s arrival.
Bailey tipped the former Ajax youngster to be a “massive cog” in the Tractor Boys’ engine room, and the Dutch holding midfielder is poised to be a force to be reckoned with in McKenna’s midfield.
Hayden Hackney
With Matusiwa signed on the dotted line, he could find himself with a new central midfield partner this summer in Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney.
Despite several Premier League clubs tracking Hackney, EFL Analysis revealed this week that Ipswich have enquired to Boro about Hackney as well as asking about the availability of his teammate, Dael Fry.
Middlesbrough fans turned on the homegrown talent after it was claimed that Hackney is “open” to an Ipswich move this summer, with a fee in the region of £20m mooted for the England youth international.
A double midfield pivot of Matusiwa and Hackney would certainly fire Ipswich towards the automatic promotion spots next season.
Omari Hutchinson
The footballing future of Omari Hutchinson continues to be up in the air, after Brentford had a £35m bid rejected for Hutchinson.
Ipswich have been prepared for Hutchinson bids all summer, and EFL Analysis revealed last week that Brentford remain “desperate” to sign Hutchinson.
There is substantial Premier League interest in the winger, who scored three goals and notched two assists in 31 top flight outings, but if McKenna can convince the former Chelsea prospect to stay, then he would be a monumental boost to the promotion quest.
Jack Clarke
Former Sunderland standout Jack Clarke endured a difficult season in his maiden Tractor Boys campaign, failing to score a goal in 32 Premier League campaigns.
Clarke can redeem himself next season, if he rediscovers his immense goalscoring form that he exhibited for the Black Cats in 2023/24, in which he scored 15 goals in 40 Championship outings.
Sammie Szmodics
Sammie Szmodics scored four goals in 20 appearances for the Tractor Boys last season after his move from Blackburn Rovers came on the back of his outstanding 33-goal campaign in 2023/24.
After his goal return dipped last season, the 29-year-old will be hoping to rediscover his impressive goalscoring form from his Rovers stint to help fire Ipswich back to the top flight.
Richard Kone
Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone has been the subject of rife transfer interest this summer, with ten clubs tracking Kone, including Ipswich.
Kone was named League One Player of the Year last season, after scoring 18 goals in 41 matches.
Last month, Wycombe plotted a record-breaking offer to keep Kone, but with no movement on a new deal, Ipswich must act on their interest and sign him as an ideal replacement up front for Delap.