Sammie Szmodics makes brutally honest admission on Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town transfer saga | OneFootball

Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics has opened up on the events that led to his departure from Blackburn Rovers last summer.

Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics has revealed that he refused to play for Blackburn Rovers last summer in an attempt to force through his move to Portman Road.

Szmodics spent two years with Blackburn after joining the club from Peterborough United in August 2022, and his second season at Ewood Park was particularly impressive as he finished as the Championship's top scorer, with his goals almost single-handedly keeping his side in the division.

After his outstanding campaign, Szmodics attracted strong interest from Ipswich, who had just been promoted to the Premier League, but the Suffolk outfit had multiple initial bids turned down, meaning that the 29-year-old began the season in Lancashire, and he scored three goals in his first two appearances of the campaign for Rovers.

The Tractor Boys were not the only club interested in Szmodics, with Leeds United also said to have been keen, but Kieran McKenna's side did not give up in their pursuit of one of their top targets, and they eventually sealed a deal in mid-August for a fee of £9 million, which could rise to £11 million with potential add-ons.

It proved to be a frustrating season for Szmodics and his Ipswich team-mates last term as they were relegated from the Premier League, and while the forward scored four goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, he missed almost the entire second half of the campaign with an ankle injury.

Sammie Szmodics opens up on leaving Blackburn Rovers for Ipswich Town

Almost a year on from his arrival at Portman Road, Szmodics revealed that he refused to play for Blackburn last summer in order to get his move to Ipswich over the line, but he insisted that he did it to prevent his personal situation becoming a distraction for Rovers in their preparations for the season, rather than out of a lack of respect for the club.

"It was quite an awkward preseason because I didn't play," Szmodics told the Stillryan podcast.

"I refused to play. I don't mind saying that now. I tried to be the best I could be at Blackburn, but I wanted to move to Ipswich because it's the Premier League. Like I said, it's my dream.

"It's back home for me, Ipswich as a club is amazing. The club Blackburn is amazing. When I was refusing to play, I went to see John Eustace who was absolutely unbelievable with me.

"I went to see him and said listen, I don't want to disrespect the staff, the players, but I don't want to take any part in the pre-season games, and he said that's absolutely fine, I'll protect you and I'll help you with whatever you want.

"Which, for me, he could have easily said like who do you think you are? Which is not me. It's not my character. Then it got to obviously the beginning of the season and the Ipswich move hadn't come off yet.

"He said the season's starting so I remember sitting with my agent thinking I've got to play mate I can't just refuse to play. I remember being on the bench against Derby first game of the season, I was like I'm on the bench and I've finished top scorer in the Championship last season.

"I've put myself on the bench by my actions. I came on, scored and then he said you're playing on Tuesday night. He said you're not refusing to play against Stockport in the cup. I started, scored two and Ipswich came back in and it all happened."

Szmodics said that he still keeps a keen eye on Rovers' results, claiming that he remains "grateful" to his former club for bringing him to Ewood Park in the first place, but he admitted that, given his age, he felt the switch to Ipswich represented his "last and only opportunity" to play in the Premier League.

Sammie Szmodics may have damaged his Blackburn Rovers legacy after Ipswich Town reveal

Szmodics was widely praised for remaining professional and continuing to perform at a high level for Blackburn at the start of last season, despite the strong speculation over his future, but his comments may slightly change the view of the Ewood Park faithful.

Of course, Szmodics more than repaid Rovers' faith in him as his goals kept the club in the Championship in the 2023-24 season, and it is easy to see why he was keen to make the move to the Premier League with Ipswich and return closer to home, but refusing to play is never a particularly good look, regardless of the circumstances.

After his side suffered relegation from the top flight, Szmodics will be going back to Blackburn next season with the Tractor Boys, and it remains to be seen what reception he will be given in Lancashire after his controversial admission.