Chuba Akpom opens up on Ipswich Town transfer decision - Birmingham City never stood a chance | OneFootball

The striker has revealed all as to why he was swayed to Portman Road over St. Andrew's

New Ipswich Town striker Chuba Akpom has revealed the key reason behind his initial temporary switch to Portman Road amid last month's well-documented transfer saga involving Birmingham City.

Ipswich and Birmingham spent last season two divisions apart - featuring in the Premier League and League One respectively - but had both conducted some of the Championship's most eye-catching transfer business during the recently-closed summer transfer window.

The two sides had also been tipped by many supporters of EFL clubs and pundits alike to be among the cluster of sides vying for promotion to the top-flight come May, with Kieran McKenna and Chris Davies among the second-tier's most highly-rated managers at present.

With both clubs acquiring the services of several continental exports and seasoned Championship performers in a bid to achieve such aims, it was no surprise that the division's one-time Golden Boot winner was linked with moves to Suffolk and the West Midlands prior to the 1-1 draw which played out among the sides in B9 in what was the 'curtain-raiser' for the second-tier campaign as a whole.

However, the Ajax loanee has revealed that those from the Second City never stood a chance of securing his signature, with an initial loan switch - which could still be made permanent - purely down to "footballing reasons."

Chuba Akpom reveals 'fortunate' Ipswich Town transfer amid Birmingham City saga

Since netting 28 goals in 40 regular-season appearances for Middlesbrough in the 2022/23 campaign, the ex-Arsenal forward has endured a mixed spell of fortunes with the Eredivisie giants, scoring 23 times in 68 appearances after leaving the Teesside outfit for an initial €12.3m.

After scoring 11 times in all competitions last term, Birmingham were the first second-tier side to be credited with interest in the 29-year-old after previously making a flurry of standout captures such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Demarai Gray.

Despite subsequent reports that his former club were set to disrupt Blues' transfer plans, it would be Town who would pull off a transfer hijack for Akpom's services, initially joining on a loan basis, although Akpom would see his switch made permanent for £7m should McKenna's side put their mixed start to the campaign behind them and return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The Northern Irishman has gained a reputation for being one of English football's most tactically astute bosses in recent seasons, especially during the club's previous spell at Championship level, during which a high-tempo and aggressive approach saw 92 goals scored.

With Akpom featuring in an attack which includes the likes of Jack Clarke, Jaden Philogene, Sammie Szmodics and the well-documented qualities which Leif Davis provides from left-back, it perhaps isn't a surprise that McKenna's nous was what enticed him to Suffolk.

“It’s no secret that I was close to joining Birmingham,” Akpom stated via TWTD. “I was still stuck on where I wanted to play, in the Premier League I had some interest and in some top divisions I had some interest.

“But once it was decided that I wanted to come back to the Championship, I always had my mind set on if Ipswich wanted me I’d go there because of the style of play.

“Fortunately, they came in at the last moment and that was the case. It was all footballing reasons why I wanted to come to Ipswich," he claimed.

“Because of the project that I saw, the players that they’d signed, the manager definitely, and most importantly the style of play. The way that the team is set up, it really suits me and I think I’ll really thrive this season.

“The environment is very important and the style of play. All of these factors come into one and I feel like that’s the main reason why I came here because I felt like the environment would just be perfect for me at Ipswich," Akpom explained.

"The style of play, the players, and what the gaffer wanted me to do. I’ll definitely put it down to the environment.

Chuba Akpom will hope to fire Ipswich Town up the Championship table after a mixed start

Akpom and Ipswich's start to the season has been rather mixed, although the man who has over 130 appearances at Championship level will hope to change such fortunes now the transfer window has shut, with McKenna now aware as to who remains at his disposal for the upcoming four-month period.

The frontman hadn't set the division alight until Michael Carrick's introduction at Middlesbrough nearly three years ago, before he was able to flourish in a dynamic attack, as well as benefitting from high-quality service provided by Ryan Giles at left-back.

With there being an abundance of similarities between that campaign and the current circumstances at Portman Road, it's no surprise that Akpom feels it was a no-brainer.

That isn't to dismiss the quality of service which would have also come his way at St. Andrew's, although Birmingham were able to complete the signing of powerful German striker, Marvin Ducksch shortly after, meaning Chris Davies won't be overly concerned or frustrated with the eventual outcome of the aforementioned transfer saga.