Bristol City smashed it with Ipswich Town deal that made them £20m | OneFootball

Adam Webster spent just one season at Ashton Gate, but his performances made for an eight-figure profit for the Robins.

Despite their seemingly never-ending residency in the Championship's midriff. Bristol City have seen a number of remarkable, Premier League standard players through their doors in recent years.

No one exemplifies this fact more than former defender Adam Webster, who has played over 100 games in England's top flight since leaving the Robins in 2019.

Webster cost the Cider Army a notable £3.5 million fee from Ipswich Town, and much like his time at Portman Road, took no time at all in becoming a fan favourite.

Webster, now a key player for Brighton and Hove Albion, has firmly established himself as a reliable and consistent Premier League centre-back. Although he's gone on to prove his £20m transfer fee, City won't feel hard done by as within just a one-year turnaround, the £16.5m profit was an incredible coup for the club.

The evidence of Webster's effect on the South West club is plain to see. Since their unfortunate loss in the 2008 play-off final at the hands of that Dean Windass volley, the 2018-19 season represents the Robins' sole top-ten finish in the second-tier, as they ended the season in eighth place.

City found themselves as high as fifth well into April, though zero wins in four at a crucial time in the season meant the club missed out on a chance at Wembley glory.

His traditional defensive capabilities were matched by his technical talent, being able to play both as a traditional center-back and in a ball-playing role. He scored three goals during the season, showcasing his aerial threat in set pieces as well.

Although the season would end in disappointment, Webster’s stock rose tremendously as his contributions were integral to the Robins' push for a playoff spot, as he consistently delivered top-tier performances. According to Sky Sports, the then 24-year-old ranked second for interceptions (91) and third for forward passes (1232).

In addition to this, according to FBRef Webster was sixth league-wide for both blocks (64) and touches (3115), second for progressive carrying distance (7688m) and fifth once more for aerials won (278).

It was abundantly clear from both the stat-sheet and the eye-test that Webster was destined for the Premier League.

Adam Webster's transfer to Brighton

Then Seagulls manager Graham Potter saw Webster as an ideal fit for his tactical philosophy, which emphasized playing out from the back and maintaining possession under pressure.

Webster's calmness on the ball and ability to build from defense quickly made him a key figure in Brighton’s defensive unit.

On August 3rd 2019, Webster was sold to the West Sussex club for £20m, which broke the club's record transfer fee at the time, previously held by Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Similarly, this deal represented a record sale for Bristol City, this was until Alex Scott's move to Bournemouth in 2023.

Despite initially competing for a place in the starting lineup, Webster quickly established himself as a regular at the heart of Brighton's defense. His versatility, capable of playing both in a back three or as part of a central defensive duo, added depth to Brighton’s defensive options. Over time, Webster cemented his status as one of the most reliable Premier League center-backs.

The estimated £16.5m profit accrued by Bristol City is undoubtedly one of the shrewdest and quickest generations of cash the EFL has ever seen, and will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Ipswich fans, who learned in hindsight that their £3.5m windfall turned out to be an absolute undercut.