Who is Jeremy Sarmiento? The former Barcelona and PSG target who has become Ipswich Town’s first January transfer signing

Ipswich Town have wasted little time in securing their first signing of the January transfer window as Jeremy Sarmiento arrives on-loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sarmiento, 21, will link up with Town for the remainder of the season although that could be extended by another 12 months should the Blues secure promotion to the Premier League.

The young forward, who signed a new contract until June 2027 only last summer, spent the first half of the season with West Brom. Sarmiento scored twice in seven starts and 14 substitute appearances.

He is able to operate as an attacking midfielder as well as out-wide on either the left or right flanks. The forward, who has made 13 appearances for the Ecuador national team, moved to London when he was seven.

The trickster started his footballing career with street football before receiving contract offers from Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Glasgow Rangers and Charlton Athletic. Sarmiento wanted to remain in London, however, and so he penned a deal with Charlton.

The Addicks’ academy graduate later moved to Benfica before signing for Brighton in July 2021 on a two-year deal. The attacking player was involved with the Seagulls Under-23s initially before breaking into the first-team and making his Premier League debut on November 27, 2021, in a 0-0 draw with Leeds United.

Sarmiento, who represented England from under-16s to under-18 level, made 13 appearances under Roberto De Zerbi during the 2022/23 campaign but had his efforts curtained by an injury sustained on international duty. He also represented Ecuador at the World Cup.

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It was a breakthrough year for the 21-year-old and the forward was told he would be spending the next 12 months temporarily away from the American Express Stadium in order to continue his development post-injury – and so off he went to join West Brom.

Describing the Madrid-born forward’s playing style, Corberan told The Mirror:

“Jeremy is not a striker – not in my mind, no. But I can see him as a No.10. Hopefully, I don’t have to play him as a No.9 – not because he can’t – but no, I see him more as a wide player.

“He’s a player who loves a one versus one. He’s someone who needs to dribble. So, I think for me, he should be outside than inside. He can beat players in a one on one.

“He gets people off their seats – one hundred per cent. That’s the reason he’s here – to dribble and take players on. If you can beat a player, you have a great chance.

“But he also needs to see that this is not the only thing he can do in a game. There are other things. Sometimes, you need to dribble, pass, just have one touch.

“What I also see in him is something different. I see a passion. And I love the passion because you can manage it. When there’s a lack of something, it’s difficult to add it. When there is an excess of something, it’s easier to fix.”

Steve Avory, Charlton Athletic’s academy manager, added:

“I certainly feel Jeremy is an exciting player, who I would describe as a wide forward, rather than a winger.

“He likes to play out on that right-hand side but loves to come in off the line and get into little pockets of space, which is what we encourage in our system of play.”

One slight concern Town fans might have is Sarmiento’s injury record. He was given his first Premier League start by Graham Potter at West Ham in December 2021, but the winger was substituted off less than 15 minutes into the game with a hamstring injury that required surgery.

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He sustained another injury prior to his loan to West Brom whilst he then picked up a quadricep injury as a Baggies player.

Despite these setbacks, however, Sarmiento remains mentally strong.
His dad, Lionel, told The Athletic:

“Football is like this. You have good things and bad things.

“Good things are when you are scoring, assisting, playing well, but we have to be realistic. Bad things are coming for everybody.”

He added: “Psychologically, he’s very strong. After Benfica, I don’t know if another player could be like this. Jeremy is ready to continue his career — humble, disciplined and with respect to everyone.”

Sarmiento’s arrival adds another option to Town’s depleted forward department. George Hirst (hamstring) is sidelined until the back-end of the season whilst Dane Scarlett recently returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur.

Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns, the preferred wide players, have both been absent recently due to sickness bugs and could benefit from the occasional rotation.

KIERAN MCKENNA QUOTES TO BE ADDED FROM ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS RELEASE