Premier League new boys Ipswich Town have continued their squad rebuild with the signing of Portuguese international midfielder Florentino Luis from Championship outfit Burnley.
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The former Benfica star will cost the Tractor Boys an initial fee of around £16m, plus add-ons of around £3m.
Florentino looking to fulfil his potential
The 26-year-old was regarded as something of a special talent in his younger years at Benfica when he first broke into the Eagles’ first-team set-up. He seemed to have all the potential and attributes to become a top defensive midfielder.
The midfielder showed his ability in flashes, but was loaned out regularly to the likes of Monaco, Getafe and eventually Burnley. His loan deal with Burnley contained a mandatory clause of around £20.8m to make the loan deal permanent.
Florentino made 25 starts for the Clarets in the Premier League, as well as six substitute appearances, as the north west outfit suffered relegation to the Championship.
The midfielder’s mixed displays and the team’s relegation led to him moving permanently just a few months after signing on a permanent basis with Burnley.
The midfielder will be hoping that he doesn’t suffer a similar fate to last season in the 2026/27 campaign.
Ipswich have had a busy summer
Florentino is just the latest summer signing in what has been a busy summer for Town’s recruitment department.
The team’s new recruits include forward players Emerson, signed from Toulouse, Daizen Maeda from Celtic, and highly-rated young winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester.
They strengthen their goalkeeping department by bringing in Kjell Scherpen from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise and Kayne van Oevelen from Volendam.
Town also completed the permanent signing of Cedric Kipre from Reims after the centre-back spent last season on loan at the club. Meanwhile, fellow centre-back Issa Diop arrived from Fulham.
Having suffered immediate relegation in their last stint in the English top-flight, Town’s work in the transfer market is geared to making a better fist of life in the Premier League this time around.