Ben Johnson agrees £60,000 per-week deal with Ipswich Town, West Ham United exit to be confirmed in days
Ben Johnson has agreed a £60,000 per-week contract with Ipswich Town to leave West Ham United when his contract expires, according to The Times.
Writing on their website (26 June), the news outlet report that the versatile defender has agreed a four-year deal at Portman Road and will leave the Hammers when his deal expires next week.
West Ham offered him a new five-year deal but he has turned down the chance to stay at his boyhood club in pursuit of more regular football elsewhere, with Julen Lopetegui targeting Aaron Wan-Bissaka as a potential replacement.
Ben Johnson to leave West Ham United for Ipswich Town
It’s been an ongoing transfer saga for several years now, but it’s finally coming to an end with Johnson heading to the newly promoted Tractor Boys.
Lopetegui had been keen to keep hold of the former England youth international with his ability to play across the defence and even in midfield, but the player made his mind up a long time ago.
A large part of the reason why he opted to leave was regular football, but he also valued himself at much higher than the club’s board did and the wages were never close to being agreed.
£60,000 per-week puts him among Ipswich’s top earners and that makes sense considering his experience and standing in their squad, but at West Ham it just wouldn’t have made much sense to do.
It’s always sad to see an academy talent leave, but fans won’t be too disappointed so long as he is replaced properly before the Premier League campaign starts.
In other West Ham news, Tottenham’s move for one Hammers star is set to accelerate after Euro 2024.
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