Leicester sign ex-Ipswich forward Chaplin

Leicester City have made former Ipswich Town forward Conor Chaplin their first signing since being relegated to League One.

The 29-year-old moves to King Power Stadium as a free agent on a three-year deal, having been released by the Suffolk side earlier in the summer.

His arrival was quickly followed by the capture of 36-year-old goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who has joined Leicester on a two-year deal following his release by Southampton.

The once-capped England international spent 10 years with Saints, where he made more than 160 appearances across all competitions.

Chaplin, who helped Ipswich to promotion to the Championship and Premier League in his time at Portman Road, spent the majority of last season on loan with Portsmouth.

He joins a Leicester side that has suffered back-to-back relegations to drop into League One - a level that Chaplin was top scorer in with 26 goals for Ipswich just four seasons ago.

The former Coventry City and Barnsley forward said he is "grateful to be given the opportunity" to play for the 2016 Premier League champions.

Chaplin and McCarthy's additions are the first made during a summer revamp at Leicester which has so far focused on reshaping a underperforming squad by shedding a number of high-earning players, as well as profit-generating youngsters.

Former England midfielder Harry Winks was sold to Italian side Cagliari earlier in the week, while forwards Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka, as well as captain Ricardo Pereira, were among a number of out-of-contract players allowed to leave after relegation from the Championship.

Financial pressures for a club that was last season hit with a points penalty for historical breaches of spending rules has also necessitated other sales, with the departure of 17-year-old Jeremy Monga to Manchester City the highest profile of them.