English football club Ipswich Town has announced the signing of Issa Diop from Fulham without disclosing the amount of the four-year contract sealed following the impressive performance of the Moroccan central defender at World Cup 2026.
Aged 29, Issa moves to Suffolk after he represented Morocco at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, playing in five of his country’s games at the tournament as they reached the last eight and scoring in their game with the Netherlands.
According to Ipswich Town, Issa brings significant experience at Premier League level, having featured in England’s top division on 173 occasions, firstly during his four-year spell with West Ham United before switching to Fulham in the summer of 2022.
“I’m excited to take the next step in my career at Ipswich Town,” Issa said.
“I know how big the club is and have enjoyed all of the conversations I have had before making the move. I know this is the right place for me. It has been a busy summer for me, representing Morocco at the World Cup,” he added
Town Manager Gary O’Neil said: “Issa is an experienced player who has played a significant amount of his career in the Premier League, so we’re delighted to have him with us.”
“He is an imposing defender with good quality and a will to win, making him an excellent addition to the group. Having played and scored at the World Cup this summer, we’re looking forward to Issa joining up with the squad soon,” underlined the manager of the British club.
Issa played for Toulouse before moving to West Ham in the summer of 2018 for a then club record fee. He featured regularly for West Ham during his first season at the club, making 38 appearances, before being a regular figure under David Moyes as part of Hammers teams which finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League.
He made 119 appearances for West Ham, scoring eight goals, before moving to Fulham in 2022. His time at Craven Cottage saw him make 96 appearances during four campaigns at the club, prior to joining Town.
Issa was named in the Morocco squad for the first time in March 2026, making his debut in a friendly against Ecuador, before being named in the final squad for the World Cup.
He featured in group games against Brazil and Scotland in the group stage, before scoring against the Netherlands and then also starting the knockout games against Canada and France.
