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Ipswich Town’s homegrown defender, Luke Woolfenden, has ascended to the Premier League after a journey filled with highs and lows.
The 26-year-old recently opened up about his form, transfer rumors, and signing a new contract. Stuart Watson reports…
Woolfenden’s path to the Premier League is a familiar rollercoaster story for many players in this Ipswich Town squad.
After joining his hometown club at the age of 12, the calm and composed defender was loaned to Bromley in the National League to gain experience.
At the time, Woolfenden felt ready for a Championship return but was disappointed when manager Paul Hurst sent him to League Two side Swindon instead.
Hurst’s short stint at Ipswich ended, and after relegation, Woolfenden returned to establish himself as a key figure in the team during their League One campaign.
In 2020, his solid performances earned him links to Premier League club Sheffield United, but Paul Lambert famously dismissed the speculation, saying, “Three million doesn’t even buy you a flake!”
Though Woolfenden stayed, his game time fluctuated as Lambert rotated the squad. When Paul Cook took over, he initiated a major clear-out.
Woolfenden, often training with the Under-23s, thought his time at Ipswich was coming to an end.
“I was waking up most mornings wanting to be anywhere else,” he admits.
However, the arrival of new American owners and manager Kieran McKenna saw Woolfenden re-establish himself, leading the club to back-to-back promotions. For the local lad, it was a dream come true.
Now, in the Premier League, Woolfenden has made 9 starts in 28 league games and appeared in three FA Cup matches, wearing the captain’s armband twice. Despite competition from new signings Dara O’Shea (£12m) and Jacob Greaves (£15m), Woolfenden has
