How much Ipswich Town are paying Leicester City to sign Kasey McAteer | OneFootball

McAteer is set to join the Tractor Boys on a permanent deal.

Ipswich Town have agreed a deal with Leicester City to sign Kasey McAteer.

The 23-year-old winger is soon set to leave the club from whose academy he graduated. McAteer played a part in helping Leicester get back to the Premier League after the first of their recent relegations to the Championship two seasons ago.

Interest in the winger was first reported on Thursday by John Percy of The Telegraph. Kieran McKenna's side had submitted an undisclosed bid for McAteer, as per Percy, which has now been accepted, according to The Athletic. This comes after Ipswich sold their star right-winger, Omari Hutchinson, to Nottingham Forest for £37.5 million.

How much Ipswich have agreed to pay Leicester for Kasey McAteer

The Tractor Boys are only set to use a minimal chunk of the fee they agreed with Nuno Espirito Santos' side to bring in McAteer. They have agreed a guaranteed £12 million deal with Leicester, as per The Athletic. They are set to pay the fee across three years - that will not include any add-ons.

McAteer has already undergone a medical with his new club and is set to sign a four-year deal.

Leicester rejected bids earlier in the year for McAteer from Sunderland, who, according to the aforementioned online outlet, proposed a loan deal with an obligation to buy the 23-year-old for £8 million, which could've risen to above eight-figures if the deal's add-ons had been met.

For Ipswich, they are adding a Republic of Ireland international who will, more likely than not, slot into the place of Hutchinson in McKenna's first XI.

Jack Clarke was used on the right-hand side of the attack in Town's last contest against Southampton, which ended in a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. The addition of McAteer, who suits roles on either flank, will provide Ipswich with greater attacking depth and allow the likes of Clarke, and others, to stick to their more suited positions.

McAteer hasn't started either of Leicester's first two games of the season. He has been limited to a couple of substitute appearances.

Ipswich have added decent depth at right-wing with Kasey McAteer

The Irishman's record in the second tier is a pretty commendable one if you look at it on a game-by-game basis. In the 2023/24 campaign, the winger scored six goals in 23 appearances which, when stretched out across a whole season, would have made him likely to notch a dozen goals in that term.

The worry is that it wasn't poor performances that kept McAteer from playing more then, and even last season too. Injuries have hampered the international in the early stages of his career. With the likes of Wes Burns still to return from his own fitness woes, McAteer's lack of consistent minutes may be a slight concern to some Town supporters.

Nonetheless, it's a position that they had to address in the remaining days of the window, and they've brought in a Championship winner to help plug the gap left by Hutchinson. For £4 million a year over the next few years, plus potential add-ons, bad business it certainly isn't - although it does represent a gamble.