Leif Davis says he hopes for ‘many more years’ at Ipswich Town after falling in love with the club.
The Geordie left-back joined the Blues from Leeds United for £1.2m in the summer of 2022, dropping down to League One in an attempt to get regular game time and help a sleeping giant awaken under ambitious new owners.
That’s certainly been the case, with the now 26-year-old being a virtual ever-present in a team that’s had back-to-back automatic promotions to the Premier League, instant relegation, followed by a quickfire return to the top table.
Leif Davis hopes for ‘many more years’ at Ipswich Town. (Image: Ross Halls)
“Three [promotions] in four years is always nice but we want to stay in the Premier League now – that’s our aim,” insisted Davis, speaking to the EADT and Ipswich Star during the club’s open top bus parade on Bank Holiday Monday.
“But to do it again with this club… it’s incredible.”
Gazing out across the sea of beaming supporters that lined the Suffolk streets to toast their heroes, Davis continued: “I’ve loved every single second I’ve been here. Four years ago I came here, it’s been the best four years of my life and hopefully there are many more to come. I just love it.
“It’s the best feeling in the world. I’ve had the best four weeks of my life. First my little girl is born and then to get promoted with this club… There’s no better feeling.”
Leif Davis became a father for the first time last month. (Image: Ross Halls)
I put it to Davis, who is contracted until 2029, that no-one could possibly have predicted how his first four years at the club were going to pan out.
“No, definitely not,” he concurs. “When I first signed for this club they wanted to be back in the Champ in four years’ time – that’s what they said. Four years later and we’re preparing for the Prem a second time.
“There’s no better feeling to do it for this club and these supporters. It’s an absolute privilege to be here and I can’t wait for many more years.”
After racking up 18 assists in the Championship promotion season of 2023/24 – a second-tier record for a defender – Davis went into the 2024/25 campaign being tipped by many to break into the England squad.
In the Premier League, however, he admits to ‘losing a lot of confidence’ after a string of top class wingers, including the likes of Mo Salah, Jeremy Doku, Jarrod Bowen and Bryan Mbeumo, provided a stern examination of his defensive game.
The new dad has added some extra strings to his bow in the season just gone, often playing as an inverted full-back in a team that conceded just 47 goals in 46 games, and really grown as a leader in the group too.
Leif Davis (left) learnt a lot from facing world class wingers such as Liverpool’s Mo Salah in 2024/25. (Image: Ross Halls)
Asked if he now feels better prepared to take on the best of the best, Davis replied: “100 per cent, yeah. I think this time I know what the league’s about. You get a lot of nerves going into the big games against the big teams but I have the experience to go and do it now.
“I know what I need to do to kick on and I think all the boys know that as well. I’m going to have some time now with my family, rest up and then will be ready to hit the ground running in pre-season.”
Leif Davis (right) and team-mate Azor Matusiwa. (Image: Ross Halls)
Both Blues chairman Mark Ashton and manager Kieran McKenna insist the club is in a much better place now than it was two years ago. Does Davis believe Premier League survival is achievable?
“We have a good enough team to do it,” he insists. “I know it’s been tough this year but every team has come to us and wanted to beat us because they know how good we are. We’ve not had one easy game.
“We’ve had to fight for every single point on the table. Now we’re going to try and do that next year in the big league.”
