Sammie Szmodics: Derby County looking to sign Ipswich forward

Football reporterPublished23 July 2026Derby County are edging closer to bringing Ipswich forward Sammie Szmodics back to the club.

The Rams are trying to sign the 30-year-old in a deal worth more than £4m after he spent the second half of last season at the Championship club.

If the move goes through he will link up with boss John Eustace for a third time, having also worked with him at Blackburn.

Republic of Ireland international Szmodics scored three goals in 13 games as Derby finished eighth last term, four points adrift of the play-offs.

Under Eustace at Blackburn he won the division's Golden Boot when he scored 27 goals in 2023-24.

Ipswich have been open to letting Szmodics leave this summer but he has been with the group during pre-season.

They paid Blackburn £9m in 2024 and he has scored five goals in 39 appearances for the Tractor Boys.