Championship winners Ipswich Town have bolstered their 2024-25 Premier League squad with a key defensive addition, confirming the signing of Morocco international center-back Issa Diop from London-based club Fulham for an undisclosed transfer fee. The 29-year-old, who brings more than five years of top-flight English football experience to the newly promoted side, has put pen to paper on a four-year contract that will keep him at Portman Road until the summer of 2030. Diop was part of Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup run that saw the North African side become the first African nation to reach the tournament quarter-finals, making five appearances throughout their campaign, and has earned nine senior caps for his country to date, scoring one international goal. Diop’s career in English football began back in 2018, when he moved from French Ligue 1 side Toulouse to Premier League outfit West Ham United. He spent four seasons with the Hammers, making more than 100 appearances for the east London club, before completing a £15 million transfer to Fulham in 2022. Across two seasons at Craven Cottage, Diop turned out 96 times in all competitions for the Cottagers, but saw his first-team opportunities limited during the 2023-24 campaign, starting just eight Premier League matches. Speaking after completing his move to Suffolk, Diop expressed his enthusiasm for the next chapter of his professional journey. “I’m excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town,” he said. “I know how big the club is and have enjoyed all of the conversations I have had before making the move. I know this is the right place for me. It has been a busy summer for me, representing Morocco at the World Cup, but I am proud to be joining Ipswich Town and am looking forward to meeting the staff, my team-mates and the supporters very soon.” This transfer marks Ipswich’s sixth senior incoming signing of the 2024 summer window, as manager Kieran McKenna continues to reshaping his squad ahead of their return to the top flight after a multi-year absence. The club has already been active in the market earlier this month, breaking their transfer record to sign Brazilian striker Emersonn from Toulouse for an approximate £26 million fee. Earlier this week, they secured a £20 million deal for Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City. The club has also made permanent signings of defender Cedric Kipre and forward Chuba Akpom, who both impressed during loan spells at Portman Road in the 2023-24 Championship-winning campaign, while goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen joined from Dutch Eredivisie side FC Volendam earlier in the window. Diop’s 173 previous Premier League appearances with Fulham and West Ham add much-needed top-flight experience to Ipswich’s defensive unit, as the club prepares to compete against some of the best teams in English football in the upcoming season.