Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is optimistic about Tete Yengi’s future success after his departure from the club.
The 23-year-old initially joined the Blues from Newcastle Jets in 2021 but did not make any senior appearances during his time at Ipswich. Instead, he embarked on three loan stints, starting at Finnish club VPS before moving to Northampton Town, aiding their League Two promotion.
His journey continued in Finland with KuPS for the latter part of the 2023 season, where they secured a runners-up position in the Veikkausliiga.
As Ipswich solidified their position in the upper echelons of the Championship, Yengi’s prospects of breaking into the team seemed limited. Consequently, he made a move to Scotland, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with Livingston.
Manager David Martindale, acknowledging Ipswich’s efforts to facilitate the transfer, expressed gratitude for the completion of the deal, involving a significant sell-on fee and a conditional clause tied to Livingston’s Premiership status in the following season. Yengi aspires to follow in the footsteps of QPR’s Lyndon Dykes, an Australian-born striker who elevated his career during his tenure at Almondvale Stadium.
McKenna, displaying confidence in Yengi, highlighted the primary objective of finding him a new permanent home for consistent playing time.
“While I didn’t have many opportunities to observe him,” McKenna, the Northern Irishman, noted, “he was on loan when I arrived and has spent a considerable amount of time away from the club in the past two years.”
He added, “Yengi possesses distinct attributes, particularly impressive physical qualities. He’s a determined individual eager to enhance his performance.”
“Originating from a lower tier of Australian football and entering the professional scene relatively late, he continues on an upward trajectory,” McKenna remarked optimistically.
“We extend our best wishes to him as he embarks on this new chapter, aspiring to carve out a successful career for himself,” McKenna concluded.
