7 Ipswich Town players will exit in 2026 if nothing changes - 39-cap international features | OneFootball

Harry Clarke is one of seven Ipswich Town players who are out of contract at the end of the current season

Seven Ipswich Town players are set to have their current contracts expire at the end of the season, and Football League World has taken a look at each one to evaluate their situations.

Following relegation from the Premier League last season, many fans and pundits alike had hotly tipped Ipswich to be among, if not the outright favourites, for the Championship title this season.

The Tractor Boys, led by Northern Irish head coach Kieran McKenna, enjoyed back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2023 and 2024, but the step-up to the top division proved to be too much too soon for the side from Suffolk, who were immediately relegated back to the second tier.

Despite their relegation, McKenna has been backed to lead Ipswich to glory once more, which was emphasised with the signings of the likes of Azor Matusiwa, Jens Cajuste, Kasey McAteer, Sindre Walle Egeli, and Marcelino Nunez.

However, Ipswich haven't fully got into gear as yet, as emphasised by their inconsistent results, but the general consensus is that it is only a matter of time before the Tractor Boys find their rhythm and take the league by storm, with a place in the top two being the main goal from the start of the season.

Seven players in the Ipswich squad are out of contract at the end of the season, and with the club harnessing Premier League ambitions, decisions regarding whether to extend deals or release the players will likely be down to whether the club achieves its goal come the end of the campaign.

Wes Burns

Wales international winger Wes Burns has been with Ipswich since the summer of 2021, joining the Tractor Boys from Fleetwood Town, and played a starring role in the club's consecutive promotions, becoming a cult hero at Portman Road.

As of now, Burns has made 145 appearances for Ipswich, scoring 28 times and also grabbing 28 assists, playing in each of League One, the Championship and the Premier League for the club.

The Welshman suffered an ACL injury in January 2025, which has left him out of action ever since, and at 30 years old, Burns may well be let go in the summer, especially if the club does achieve promotion.

Either way, Ipswich fans will likely understand either decision to keep him at the club or let him go, but whatever the case, he will forever remain a fan favourite in Suffolk.

David Button

David Button joined Ipswich this summer on a free transfer, with the 36-year-old agreeing a one-year deal with the Tractor Boys, acting as backup to Alex Palmer and Christian Walton.

Button has had a long and well-travelled career, with Ipswich being the 19th different club he has signed for, either permanently or on loan.

His most notable spell came with Brentford between 2013 and 2016, where he made 141 appearances across all competitions in three seasons with the West London outfit.

Button has merely been signed as a cover option for both Palmer and Walton, and likely will not feature this season unless both are unable to play through injury or other reasons. A contract extension will likely hinge on how well he has fit into the group and whether he is happy to remain as the third-choice goalkeeper.

Harry Clarke

A boyhood Ipswich fan, Clarke, 24, came through the academy of Arsenal and spent time out on loan with the likes of Oldham Athletic, Ross County, Hibernian, and Stoke City, before moving back to Suffolk in January 2023 with the club still in League One.

Despite playing a prominent role in the Tractor Boys' promotion from the Championship in the 2023/24 season, Clarke has barely featured since, with both Axel Tuanzebe and Ben Johnson preferred over him in the top flight, and Darnell Furlong signed to provide competition to Johnson this season.

As a result, Clarke finds himself out in the cold, and could leave his boyhood club once more this summer should he be unable to force his way into the side.

Cameron Humphreys

Midfielder Humphreys has worked his way through the youth system at Ipswich to make it to the first team, yet with the likes of Cajuste, Matusiwa, Nunez, and Jack Taylor offering competition in central areas at Portman Road, the Englishman has found his game-time to be limited.

The 22-year-old spent last season out on loan with League One side Wycombe Wanderers, making 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and grabbing six assists as the Chairboys lost out in the play-off semi-final to eventual winners Charlton Athletic.

An academy prospect with ample time to improve, it would be a surprise to see Humphreys leave Ipswich this summer, though the decision of whether he stays at the club or not will hinge on whether he wants to find a permanent home to play more first-team football or head out on loan once more, with his game time unlikely to increase anytime soon.

Conor Townsend

32-year-old Townsend signed for Ipswich upon their promotion to the top flight to provide competition for Leif Davis at left-back.

The Englishman spent six years at West Brom between 2018 and 2024, making 213 appearances for the Baggies, but since his move to Portman Road, he has barely featured, making just ten appearances across all competitions since his switch.

Townsend suffered an ACL injury during the most recent pre-season, with Ashley Young being brought in to provide competition for Davis in his absence, and with his lack of minutes and him not getting any younger, it's hard to see an extension on the cards.

Christian Walton

Goalkeeper Walton initially joined Ipswich in August 2021 on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, but the move was made permanent the following January after establishing himself as the number one option in goal.

The Englishman remained as the Tractor Boys' number one option in League One the following campaign as they earned promotion to the Championship, but since then, he has largely been a backup option, playing second fiddle to each of Vaclav Hladky, Arijanet Muric, and now Alex Palmer.

However, following a calf injury to Palmer, Walton has been afforded a chance between the sticks in recent weeks, and at 30 years old, he has proven to be a reliable option when called upon, who stands every chance of earning an extension, regardless of which division Ipswich play in next season.

Ashley Young

Now 40 years old, it feels like Young has been around forever, and that isn't necessarily untrue.

Having started as an electric and tricky winger, Young has slowly moved backwards on the pitch as his career has progressed, primarily playing as a left-back these days.

Young has 485 Premier League appearances to his name, whilst having also spent two seasons in Italy for Inter Milan, and is a true veteran of the game, offering the kind of experience and composure in defence that McKenna will view as invaluable.

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa man has made seven Championship appearances so far this season for Ipswich, and will be used as a rotation option, covering for Davis at left-back.