King's Lynn Town swoop for former Championship defender from Ipswich Town

King's Lynn Town have strengthened their squad by bringing in one of their main summer targets.

The Linnets have swooped to sign former Ipswich Town defender Chris Smith with the new National League North season just a fortnight away.

Smith, 21, joined his hometown side in 2006 and progressed through the Tractorboys' Academy to make his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace in August 2017.

Linnets director of football Robbie Back said: "Ian (Culverhouse) and myself have been talking to Chris since the beginning of the summer.

"It is fair to say that he was one of our main targets. He's really impressed us and his aim is get to get back into the Football League.

"We wanted him to have a couple of games with us to see if he enjoyed it here. We are so pleased to bring him to the club."

The centre half spent his youth career with the Blues, spending a number of seasons at Portman Road prior to moving to National League South side Chelmsford City on loan in September 2017.

The youngster made 31 appearances for the Clarets across two spells either side of a brief return to Suffolk during an injury crisis in the January.

Smith, who has played in the Linnets' first two pre-season friendlies, then made the switch to Aldershot Town on a youth loan last season.