Bree has left Aston Villa to join Lambert’s Ipswich Town on a permanent basis.
Paul Lambert has top Ipswich Town’s website that he is delighted to raid his old side and sign Aston Villa defender James Bree on loan until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old has joined Ipswich on loan until the end of the season, after managing just eight Championship appearances for Villa throughout the 2018-19 campaign.
Right-back Bree was signed by Steve Bruce in January 2017, but has since played just 28 times for the Midlands outfit since his move from Yorkshire outfit Barnsley – which also saw Conor Hourihane join the club.
Former Villa boss Lambert was overjoyed to land Bree, stating he is confident that the defender can impress at Portman Road due to having experience in the Championship – 41 appearances worth in fact.
“I’m delighted to have James with us,” Lambert said. “He did really well at Barnsley before getting his move to Villa. It took a while for him to settle in there – that’s the way it often is for young players when they get a big move like that.
“He has broken into their first-team this season and done well. He knows the division well and he will add more competition at the back for us.”
Bree becomes Ipswich’s sixth loan signing within their current squad, joining Everton’s Matthew Pennington, Chelsea’s Trevor Chalobah, Hull City’s Will Keane, Leicester City’s Callum Elder and Huddersfield Town’s Colin Quaner.
Only five loan signings are allowed within a matchday 18, and Lambert will now have to deal with that problem when it comes to picking his side. On the issue, Lambert said: “That is a situation I’ll have to manage.”
Bree could make his debut against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
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