Tranmere Rovers have announced the signing of veteran forward Tom Ince, who joins the club on a two-year deal. Ince, who is 34, has a career record of 103 goals in 505 league appearances. He is the son of former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince.
Ince began his career with Liverpool and has since played for several clubs, including Blackpool, Hull City, Derby County, Huddersfield, Stoke, and Reading. His most recent spell was a three-year period with the Hornets, where he scored 11 goals in 93 appearances. This move marks Ince’s first time playing in League Two.
Tranmere manager Darrell Clarke commented on Ince’s arrival, noting his experience at a high level throughout his career. Clarke highlighted Ince’s ability to provide creativity, composure, and versatility in the final third, adding that his experience would be invaluable to the younger players in the squad.
Additional Signings for Tranmere
In addition to Ince, Tranmere has also secured the services of left-back Olly Scott and winger Charlie Veevers. Scott, 25, joins from Aldershot, where he scored once in 14 National League appearances last season. He had been on trial with the League Two side prior to signing his one-year contract.
Veevers, 21, is a former Manchester United trainee who spent the past two years with Burnley’s under-21 side. He has also signed a one-year contract with Tranmere. Both Scott and Veevers completed their moves on Monday.
The trio of new signings could potentially make their debuts for Tranmere in their upcoming Carabao Cup preliminary round tie against Rochdale on Saturday. Tranmere is scheduled to begin their league campaign with a home fixture against Shrewsbury on Saturday, 15 August.
Ince’s Career Path and Past Interest from Liverpool
Ince’s career has seen various turns since his initial departure from Liverpool in 2011 at the end of his contract. He moved to Blackpool, where he became a prominent player in the Championship. During his time at Blackpool, Ince recorded eight goals and 10 assists from 41 appearances in one season, and an even more impressive 18 goals and 14 assists from 44 Championship appearances in another.
His performances at Blackpool attracted interest from his former club, Liverpool, who attempted to re-sign him approximately 18 months after his initial departure. Reports from December 2012 indicated that Liverpool was close to a £4m deal to bring the then-20-year-old back to Anfield. Blackpool was said to value Ince at around £6m, but Liverpool hoped for a discount due to a 35% sell-on clause they had negotiated when Ince first left.
Despite Liverpool’s efforts, the transfer did not materialize. Blackpool boss Michael Appleton confirmed that an offer from Liverpool had been rejected, and no further bids were received. Ince later expressed his disappointment, stating that he felt Blackpool’s chairman made the move difficult due to the sell-on fee percentage owed to Liverpool.
Ince’s father, Paul Ince, who was managing Notts County at the time, had previously described Liverpool’s initial contract offer to his son as “derisory” and criticised the club for not allowing Ince to rejoin Notts County on loan if he did not sign a new long-term deal. Ince himself reflected on his decision to leave Liverpool, stating that he needed to be brave and step away to gain playing experience, drawing parallels with players like Harry Kane who benefited from loan spells.
He highlighted the importance of playing in front of crowds in competitive matches, contrasting it with reserve games. Ince’s journey has included brief stints in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, Hull City, and Huddersfield Town. His move to Tranmere as a free agent is seen as an opportunity for the club to acquire a proven Championship forward.
Source: bbc.co.uk