AXEL TUANZEBE has completed a free transfer to Championship side Ipswich Town.
The former Manchester United wonderkid was released by the club over the summer along with Phil Jones, who has since returned in a coaching capacity.
But Tuanzebe, 25, has now found a new home at Portman Road Stadium in Suffolk that will see him link up with former Man Utd assistant manager Kieran McKenna.
A statement from Town said: "The club is pleased to announce the signing of defender Axel Tuanzebe.
"The 25-year-old, who has spent the last week training with Town, joins as a free agent and has signed a one-year deal. The club has an option to extend his stay for a further 12 months...
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"He becomes Town’s seventh signing following promotion to the Championship and will wear the number 40 shirt during his time with the Blues."
Tuanzebe, who had been with the Red Devils since the age of eight, said: "It feels great to finally get the deal over the line.
"I had conversations with the manager earlier in the summer, having worked with him previously, and it’s great to have a familiar face.
"Knowing the calibre of coach he is, it was a good decision to come here because I know the standards he has and how thorough he is.
“The stadium, pitch and training ground are top notch and the group is humble, willing to work and everyone wants to take the club into a better position.
“I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started."
Tuanzebe's arrival at Ipswich comes less than three years after he "pocketed" superstar Kylian Mbappe in a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.
In total, Tuanzebe made 37 appearances for Man Utd as injuries and a string of loan deals saw his Old Trafford career stutter.
But McKenna, who has also recruited Brandon Williams from United on a season-long loan, believes Tuanzebe can be a big part of the club's season.
He added: "We’re really pleased to have Axel at the football club.
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“He’s a defender with a lot of experience and pedigree at a young age and a lot of qualities as a player and as a person.
"He’s fast, strong in one-on-one situations, is a good communicator and carries the ball well. We think he will bring a lot to the team and to the club.
“He has trained well with the group over the last week and will continue to do so.
"We want to build him up in a sensible way and get him back to his best condition. If we do that we feel we could have a very valuable asset for the team.
“We have enjoyed working with him this week and he’s enjoyed being with us and being part of the environment, getting to know the culture and how we play.
“Now we’re looking forward to getting more work in on the training pitch and integrating him into the team."
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