Ipswich’s Scottish surge gains a three‑year boost with Lawton

Ipswich Town have secured Celtic full‑back Emma Lawton on a three‑year free transfer, the Tractor Girls announced on their website earlier today. The 24‑year‑old defender joins the Sussex side after leaving Celtic this summer, having made 71 appearances and scored 15 goals for the Scottish champions.

Ipswich’s summer window has already seen 11 new signings, many arriving from the Scottish Women’s Premier League, underscoring the club’s ambition to strengthen the squad with proven SWPL talent. Lawton’s record of 71 appearances and 15 goals for Celtic, combined with 12 caps and two international goals for Scotland, provides the defensive depth and experience the club sought. Her previous spells at Partick Thistle, Manchester City and Motherwell demonstrate a breadth of experience across Scottish football, aligning with Ipswich’s strategy of recruiting seasoned players from the league.

For Ipswich Town, Lawton adds an athletic and energetic option at full‑back, a profile she described herself as, enhancing the team’s defensive versatility for the upcoming season. Lawton said she wanted a new challenge and, after speaking with Sean Burt and David Wright, felt the project at Ipswich was the right fit at this stage of her career. The move gives the Scottish international a platform to continue her international career while contributing to the club’s growing Scottish contingent in the English game.