It has been a deadline day of outgoings at Portman Road as six Ipswich Town players – including four members of the senior squad – left the club.

Luke Woolfenden completed a permanent move away, while Conor Chaplin, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ali Al-Hamadi all sealed season-long loan switches – as did youngsters Fin Barbrook and Tommy Taylor.

Having come through the academy at his hometown club, centre-back Woolfenden went on to make 215 appearances for the Tractor Boys, scoring five goals.

He was a central figure in the team that achieved back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League and he went on to feature on 18 occasions for the club in the top flight.

However, he has now to decided to pursue a new challenge with Coventry City, who had an undisclosed bid for Woolfenden accepted over the weekend.

Quoted on the Ipswich website, the 26-year-old said: “It has been an absolute honour to represent my hometown club for so long.

“When I joined the academy as such a young boy I would never have believed I would go on to make so many appearances for the first-team, let alone achieve everything we have in recent years.

“I have seen a lot during my time at the club and there have been some difficult periods as well, but to be a part of such a special time for the club and win back-to-back promotions to the Premier League will live with me forever.

“So many people have helped me along the way and I’ve played with so many special teammates who will be friends for life. I’ll always be grateful.

“It will be strange to not be an Ipswich Town player, but the club will always have a special place in my heart.”

Another key player in the successive promotions – playmaker Chaplin – has linked up with Portsmouth on loan in a move that will see him return to the club where started his professional career.

The 28-year-old came through the ranks at Fratton Park and scored 25 goals in 122 appearances before departing for Coventry in the summer of 2018.

Pompey boss John Mousinho said: “I’m sure that Conor doesn’t really need any introduction to the Pompey faithful.

“This is a deal that I know everyone’s going to be excited about and we’re grateful to Ipswich for loaning him to us.

“We’re delighted to bring in someone who’s a proven Championship goalscorer and was part of a side that recently enjoyed an outstanding season at this level.

“With the fact that he’s at the prime of his career – along with the history he has here – it’s a brilliant signing for us.”

Ogbene has joined fellow Championship side Sheffield United on loan – a move that sees him return to Yorkshire after a previous four-year stint at Rotherham United.

“I’m very happy and excited. It is an honour to be at a great club. I’ve lived here for four years, so I like to think I know what this club means to the people and the city. It is a huge honour to be here,” he told the Blades’ website.

“I have a feeling about what Sheffield United means to the people, so to be part of it now and to be immersed into this club which has over 130 years of incredible history, and has a passionate fanbase, it is something I want to be part of.

“It is almost like my second home in England and given the stature it was one I had to take. It is an opportunity you don’t pass up on.”

As for striker Al-Hamadi, his loan move to League One Luton Town will become permanent if certain criteria are met over the course of the campaign.

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield, who was a trainee at Ipswich during his early playing days, said: “I’m really excited about this one. I’ve been a long-time admirer of his, and it’s a real signing of intent, especially having seen the way he’s developed over the past couple of years.

“He’s an incredible man, someone who is comfortable in himself and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. As a player, he’s got pace and power and wants to get in behind and score goals.

“His game really kicked on at Wimbledon and since moving to Ipswich, he’s played with some really top players which has improved his all-round game. He’s currently working back to fitness from a slight calf injury, but we’re really looking forward to him being a big part of our future.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Barbrook, who made his first-team debut during the League Cup defeat at Bromley earlier this season, has joined League One side Lincoln City, while the club’s Under-21s captain Tommy Taylor will spend the campaign in League Two with Cheltenham Town.

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