Chuba Akpom reveals ‘most important’ reason why he snubbed Birmingham City for Ipswich Town

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Chuba Akpom will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Ipswich Town from Ajax after weeks of speculation about a move to Birmingham City.

After reports emerged that Birmingham were interested in the Ajax forward, Ipswich plotted an Akpom hijack against the Blues.

In the transfer tug of war between two of the Championship’s top sides, Ipswich won the race for Akpom over Birmingham and will be obligated to shell out a £7m fee for the former Arsenal prospect if Kieran McKenna’s side earn promotion this term.

The week-long saga was one of the biggest talking points of the summer window, with the Tractor Boys completing a major coup regarding the frontman who notched 29 goals in 42 outings for Middlesbrough in 2022/23 before his Ajax move.

Ahead of Ipswich’s clash against Sheffield United tonight, Akpom has lifted the lid on the key factors behind his Birmingham snub.

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Why Chuba Akpom chose Ipswich Town over Birmingham City

Akpom is in contention for his first Tractor Boys start against the rock-bottom Blades with Sammie Szmodics a doubt, and could be the perfect antidote to Ipswich’s lacklustre goalscoring form so far this season.

We at EFL Analysis believe that McKenna should start Ivan Azon over George Hirst against Sheffield United, and the Spaniard would be even more of a dangerous proposition linking up with Akpom.

Ahead of the Blades, Akpom explained that he always wanted the Ipswich move despite being “close” to joining the Blues because of a plethora of factors, but most crucial was Ipswich’s style of play under McKenna.

As quoted by TWTD, Akpom said: “It’s no secret that I was close to joining Birmingham.

“Once it was decided that I wanted to come back to the Championship, I always had my mind set on if Ipswich wanted me I’d go there because of the style of play.

“Fortunately, they came in at the last moment and that was the case. It was all footballing reasons why I wanted to come to Ipswich.”

On why he wanted the Ipswich move, Akpom added: “Because of the project that I saw, the players that they’d signed, the manager definitely, and most importantly the style of play. The way that the team is set up, it really suits me and I think I’ll really thrive this season.

“Once I decided that I wanted to come back to the Championship, it was 100 per cent Ipswich that I wanted to come to.

“The environment is very important and the style of play. All of these factors come into one and I feel like that’s the main reason why I came here because I felt like the environment would just be perfect for me at Ipswich.

“The style of play, the players, and what the gaffer wanted me to do. I’ll definitely put it down to the environment.”

Not only did Akpom explain his Birmingham snub, the former Middlesbrough star revealed that a phone call with ex-Boro boss Michael Carrick helped his decision to join Ipswich.

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Michael Carrick’s role in Chuba Akpom’s move to Ipswich Town

Akpom established himself as one of the best players in the Championship during the 2022/23 season at Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick.

Carrick is close friends with McKenna, given their Manchester United connection, and the Englishman revealed that he spoke with his former Boro boss before signing on the dotted line at Portman Road.

Akpom added: “Yeah, I did (speak with Carrick). Similar ways of playing and generally just two top people that you can have a conversation with.

“The main factor for me is learning. I’m 29 but as I get older I feel like I’m learning more and more. When I was with Michael Carrick, he taught me so much.

“Already with the gaffer here, I’ve had a few meetings and conversations with him and I’m picking up on small bits already. I just want to improve as much as I can and do the best that I can.”

Despite an impressive first season at Ajax post-Boro, with 15 goals in 36 outings during his debut campaign, Akpom was sent out on loan to Lille in the second half of last season.

His outstanding 29-goal season on Teesside remains his best term to date since breaking through at Arsenal in 2013, and if McKenna can help Akpom rediscover the electric form that Carrick guided him to, then he could very well become a permanent Tractor Boys figure come May.