Ipswich Town: Manchester City goalkeeper Cieran Slicker signed
Ipswich Town have confirmed the signing of Manchester City goalkeeper Cieran Slicker.
The 20-year-old – who was spotted watching the Blues’ 2-1 friendly win against Maidenhead United last night – joins for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract at Portman Road.
A Scotland Under-21 international who has been on the City bench for Premier League and Champions League games, Slicker made three appearances on loan for League Two club Rochdale last season.
Because he’s under the age of 21, Town won’t have to register him as part of their 25-man Championship squad this season
Brought into back-up Christian Walton and Vaclav Hladky, it’s likely that current third-choice keeper Nick Hayes, 24, will now go out on loan.
“I’m buzzing to be here because this is a great opportunity for me at an amazing club,” said Slicker.
“Saying goodbye to City is tough, because I have been there for 13 years, but this is definitely the right time for me.
“I have been speaking to Reg (Rene Gilmartin, Town’s head of goalkeeping) and I can’t wait to get started with him. He’s worked with goalkeepers I’ve played with previously and everyone has spoken very highly of him.
“The way Ipswich play was a big part of the reason I chose to come here, because it suits my style.
“Everyone I know who played in League One last season said Ipswich were the best team by a mile, so hearing that was great for me. In some ways it’s similar to the way City play so that is really big for me.
“Working with Ederson, Scott (Carson) and Zak (Steffen) at City has been a brilliant experience for me and working with Christian (Walton) is going to be the same. He was the best goalkeeper in the league last season and I want to learn as much as I can from him because he sets the standards I want to reach.”
Gilmartin said: “Cieran is a highly regarded and highly recommended goalkeeper who we have had a very good look at and heard great things about.
“He’s the kind of high-level goalkeeper we are looking to bring to the club and we’re delighted to have him.
“We have a very strong goalkeeping department now and we want players who are developing at the club and have a realistic chance to be the first choice in the future.
“We’re thrilled with how Christian did last season, and Vas (Vaclav Hladky) had a great season himself, but to have someone like Cieran coming in will only help keep the levels really high.
“He comes from a big club in Manchester City and has been on the bench for them before while also featuring in their Champions League squads, so he’s been around the senior game for a while.
“We’re really looking forward to working with him and it’s great the deal was done before we head away to our camp in Austria. Being involved in that will really help him embed himself into the group.”
Town’s first-team squad flies to Austria tomorrow for a week-log training camp that will end with friendlies against Spartak Trnava and Flyeralarm Admira.
