Despite interest from Leeds United, Sammie Szmodics joined Ipswich Town from Blackburn Rovers. His recent comments will have Leeds fans wincing.

Szmodics’ departure from Rovers didn’t always seem certain,

as there were rumors that the team was eager to lock him down to a big new contract.

However, his performances from the previous season would undoubtedly draw a lot of attention,

making it challenging to keep him on staff.

After an amazing 2023–24 season in which he won the Championship Golden Boot

and kept the team from being demoted to League One, Szmodics left Ewood Park.

He scored the most goals in the Championship last season (27),

which meant Blackburn had initially set his asking price at £20 million, according to EADT.

According to Nick Mashiter of the BBC, Town would not consent to shelling out a hefty sum for Szmodics.

The relocation negotiations had been going on for about a month, and at one point,

the length of time the negotiations were taking had annoyed Suffolk.

After a contract was eventually reached, the 28-year-old scored a goal against Derby County on the first weekend

of the season as a farewell gift before joining the Premier League in a deal

that could potentially cost up to £11 million in add-ons.

Szmodics reacts to joining Ipswich Town with Kieran McKenna reveal

Leeds and Sheffield United expressed interest in signing the player,

but Blackburn was hesitant to transfer him to a team in the same division.

Szmodics’s wish to play in the Premier League was also fulfilled in the end.

After completing this transaction, the Tractor Boys were able to land one of their main objectives.

On April 13, Szmodics scored a goal at Elland Road that was well-liked by supporters

of both Blackburn and Ipswich. It was Leeds’ first home loss of the season,

but it was also a crucial goal for their opponent’s attempt to survive

and severely hurt Ipswich’s chances of earning automatic promotion.

Since then, Szmodics has disclosed McKenna’s first performance following his club debut.

The striker stated, via TWTD: “When I signed at Ipswich and had the first meeting with the manager

in this room. Szmodics remembered, “He said we have a clip to show of Sam and he showed that goal

and welcomed me to the team.” “It made many Ipswich fans very happy and obviously helped Ipswich push for promotion.”

The possibility to transfer to Ipswich and join the Premier League,

as well as to return to an area close to where he was raised,

made Szmodics’ departure from Blackburn this summer unavoidable.

His goals were a major factor in the team finishing 19th in the standings the previous year and surviving relegation

to the third division by a mere three points. With Suffolk playing in the top division,

where opportunities are even as scarce, he hopes to have the similar impact.

John Eustace, who was hoping to invest the money from Szmodics’ sale in time,

will be devastated by his departure this summer. But even when Szmodics left at the end of August,

they had a fantastic start to the season.