The Tractor Boys finished 2nd in the Championship behind league winners Leiceskter City in just their first season of second-tier football since rising from League One in 2022.ú
Now though, it has been confirmed that the 25-year-old has already landed a new club.
National League side Barnet have announced the signing of Hayes on their official club website. He joins on a free transfer, keeping him in the fifth-tier following a strong loan spell with play-off finalists Solihull Moors.
Hayes kept seven clean sheets in 27 games for the Moors, also keeping an impressive three clean sheets in four games on an emergency loan at Southend United in October.
He departs without making a senior appearance for the club, fulfilling a role as cover and competition at Portman Road while spending some time out on loan. Those stints have been emergency ones more often than not, but his time at Solihull Moors has shown he’s ready to be a no.1.
A move to Barnet should offer him the chance to do that and at 25, he’s at the right age to take that opportunity.
At The Hive, he’ll be hoping to play a key role in another promotion bid. They fell short this year but with the help of Hayes and some other impressive signings, they’ll be determined to go one further this time around
