Exequiel Palacios joins Ipswich Town from Bayer Leverkusen

Ipswich Town has officially completed the signing of Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen. The 27-year-old World Cup winner has signed a contract through June 2030.

While the transfer fee was officially undisclosed, reports indicate a deal worth approximately €22.5 million in fixed fees, plus an additional €5 million in performance-based variables. The move follows negotiations where Leverkusen initially sought higher figures, but eventually reached a compromise with the newly promoted Premier League side.

Palacios leaves Germany after six and a half years, during which he made 186 appearances and helped Bayer Leverkusen secure a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in the 2023/24 season. His departure is partly attributed to injury concerns, specifically a recurring adductor issue that affected his availability last season.

The transfer also provides a significant financial boost to his former club, River Plate. Due to FIFA solidarity mechanisms and a sell-on clause established during his previous transfer, River is expected to receive a sum totaling between €1.3 million and €2.7 million.