Ipswich Town have finalized an agreement to acquire Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer.
A deal valued at £12million guaranteed over three years plus additional clauses has been settled by the two Championship clubs, and the 23-year-old has already passed a medical ahead of the transfer. He will sign a four-year contract at Portman Road.
Leicester turned down a bid from Sunderland earlier this year for McAteer. The proposal was an offer of a loan with a compulsory purchase for £8m, potentially exceeding £10m with add-ons.
McAteer has made three appearances for Leicester this season, entering as a substitute twice in the Championship and starting the team’s penalty shootout loss to Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup.
A graduate of Leicester’s academy, McAteer has made 45 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring eight goals.
He had temporary stints on loan at AFC Wimbledon and Forest Green Rovers before earning a spot in the first team.
Born in England, McAteer represents the Republic of Ireland at international level. He received his initial call-up in late August last year and made his debut in a 2-0 Nations League defeat against England the following month. He has earned six caps for the national side.
A transfer for McAteer would mark him as Ipswich’s seventh acquisition of the summer, with their new additions including Chuba Akpom on loan from Ajax and Ashley Young as a free agent.
Kieran McKenna’s team drew their first two Championship matches of the season 1-1, against Birmingham City and Southampton, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup on penalties by League Two club Bromley. They return to play on Saturday when they visit Preston North End.