IPSWICH Town have signed Danish 21-year-old defender Thomas Gaardsoe on a four-year contract.The Under-21 international completed the deal before flying out of Stansted Airport at 4pm to join up with his Danish colleagues for a match this week.

IPSWICH Town have signed Danish 21-year-old defender Thomas Gaardsoe on a four-year contract.

The Under-21 international completed the deal before flying out of Stansted Airport at 4pm to join up with his Danish colleagues for a match this week.

Gaardsoe said that he was influenced by former Ipswich striker Chris Kiwomya who is currently playing for his former club Aalborg.

Gaardsoe has played more than 90 times for Aalborg in the Danish League, making his debut as a 17-year-old.

After completing discussions with Town chairman David Sheepshanks and manager George Burley, Gaardsoe said: "I have learned many good things about playing football in England and this step is one which I wanted to take.

"Chris Kiwomya was full of praise for Ipswich and I must admit that I have been very impressed every time I saw them play on television.

"I have played in the Champions League for Aalborg and have experience of European football. Whether I can get into the first team with Ipswich this season on a regular basis remains to be seen, but I shall certainly be working hard."

Burley confirmed that Gaardsoe had been signed with the future in mind and said that the youngster had tremendous potential.

Burley added: "Thomas has got to work hard to get into our squad and his signing shows that we are looking to the future. I am sure he will be a great player and this signing shows that we are looking to reinvest our money in players who will serve us well in the years to come."

And chairman David Sheepshanks, who confirmed that the fee – thought to be around the £1m mark – must remain undisclosed following an agreement between the two clubs.

He said: "We have bought some experienced players with a view to them playing in the first team from the word go. We are also looking to the future and it is of paramount importance to the long term success of our club that we invest in younger players."

Meanwhile, Ipswich defender Titus Bramble has been withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad for forthcoming fixtures in Germany on Friday and against Albania at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium next Tuesday.

Bramble could have added to the seven caps he has already won but for a troublesome ankle problem that has forced him to miss out.

Burley said: "We sent Titus to join up with the squad and asked him to see the doctor. The result is that he has been advised to withdraw.

"Titus has been playing with this ankle for a couple of weeks and is still a bit sore. Since we don't have a first team game until Saturday week it gives him an opportunity to rest it, which is probably best for him."

Town plan to field a strong reserve side at Charlton tomorrow night, with experienced defender Mark Venus likely to figure alongside Argentinian midfielder Sixto Peralta, signed on a season-long loan from Inter Milan last week.

Summer signing Tommy Miller, the ex-Hartlepool midfielder, is also set to play, while striker Alun Armstrong is another possible starter at The Valley, but the ex-Newcastle and Middlesbrough man may not be risked.