Ipswich Town midfielder Finley Barbrook is set to have his season-long loan to League One side Lincoln City cut short.
The 21-year-old will return to Portman Road after a fairly unsuccessful loan spell with the Imps. Having made his senior debut for Ipswich in the EFL Cup in August, the midfielder has since struggled for game time at the LNER Stadium.
After a disappointing mid-table finish last season, Skubala’s side are currently 3rd and looking to secure promotion to the Championship. With this in mind, Lincoln may be looking to improve their squad and see Barbrook’s chances of breaking into the side as limited.
Finley Barbrook’s return to Ipswich Town confirmed
As confirmed by Lincoln City’s director of football Jez George on the Stacey West Podcast, Finley Barbrook will be returning to Ipswich Town in the upcoming transfer window:
“We’ve made an agreement with Ipswich. Fin’s got a knock. He could possibly be fit for that last week of December”
“But realistically, that’s not right for us to stop him then going on loan somewhere else in the second half of the season. So Fin will go back to Ipswich”
Barbrook joined Lincoln on a season-long-loan until the end of the 2025-25 season in the summer transfer window. The termination of the midfielder’s loan will allow him and Ipswich to search for another loan deal during the second half of the season.
You can watch the full episode here.
How has Finley Barbrook fared this season for Lincoln City?
Having made his first team debut in August for Ipswich Town, Barbrook may have been expected to kick on during his loan spell at Lincoln City. The 21-year-old made his Imps debut in a Vertu Trophy game against Notts County in September.
Only two appearances have followed since with both of these coming in the Vertu Trophy against Manchester United U21s and Barnsley. Despite an average rating across the three games of 7.46 on fotmob, Barbrook has failed to have an impact on Skubala’s League One side.
The midfielder has made five appearances for Ipswich Town U21s in Premier League 2 during his loan spell. In those five appearances, Barbrook has managed to score three goals.
What next for Finley Barbrook?
Due to the fact that the Vertu Trophy does not count towards the two-club rule per season, Barbrook will be able to go on a second loan spell upon his return to Ipswich Town. Barbrook impressed in the National League last season with Sutton United.
According to Sofascore, the 21-year-old finished the 2024-25 season with a passing accuracy figure of 82% and a successful dribbles figure of 77%. The Ipswich midfielder also claimed Sutton’s player’s player and young player of the year awards last season.
Therefore it is likely that the midfielder will get a loan spell into League One or Two. Should Ipswich Town be looking to keep Barbrook in League One, then a move to Peterborough United could be a logical one.
Under new manager Luke Williams, the Cambridgeshire side look to play a possession-based style of football which could suit Barbrook’s passing and dribbling ability. Peterborough have been playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation recently which could allow Barbrook to compete for one of those defensive midfield positions.
A move to Peterborough would allow the Ipswich midfielder to stay fairly local and appear in the Premier League 2 games should both clubs agree. Barbrook needs to play regular football in order to develop at the age of 21.
Taking this into account, it is hard to argue against this being the correct decision. Should the midfielder have an impressive second half of the season, he could find himself competing for a spot in Ipswich Town’s midfield next season.