Republic of Ireland striker Alan Lee has joined Ipswich Town from Cardiff City in a cut price deal said to be in the region of £175,000.
The 6'2 Galway man underwent a medical at Portman Road this morning and put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal.
"We've been after a striker for a while and Alan will provide us with a physical presence we need," Ipswich boss Joe Royle said of his new recruit.
Lee said: "It’s a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to get started. I only got permission to speak to Joe on Monday but he didn’t have to sell the club to me."
Cardiff wasted no time in replacing the 27-year-old. Manager Dave Jones today signed Scottish international striker Stephen Thompson from Rangers.
Lee joined Cardiff from Rotherham for £850,000 in August 2003. He scored 7 goals in all competitions for Cardiff last season but has hit the net just twice in 25 Championship appearances this term.
Lee, who was once on the books at Aston Villa, made his Republic of Ireland debut under Brian Kerr in the 1-0 home friendly win over Norway in 2003 and progressed to win another seven caps.
Ipswich are currently 15th in the Championship table, five points below Lee's former club Cardiff who sit 10th with 38 points.
"Looking at the table," Lee said today, "Reading and Sheffield United look set for the top places but the play-offs are up for grabs for so many clubs and I don’t see why we cant be one of them."
