diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 26ebac5..e02d771 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ set(SRC_FILES
     src/core/mailitem.cpp
     src/core/models/account.cpp
     src/core/models/folder.cpp
-    # src/services/synchronizer.cpp  # placeholder
+    src/services/synchronizer.cpp
+    src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.cpp
 )
 
 # Executable
diff --git a/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.cpp b/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee81603
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+#include "imapsynchronizer.h"
+#include <QDebug>
+
+ImapSynchronizer::ImapSynchronizer(QObject* parent)
+    : Synchronizer(parent)
+{
+}
+
+bool ImapSynchronizer::initialize(const Account& account)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(account);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer initialize (stub)";
+    m_connected = true; // pretend success
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool ImapSynchronizer::syncFolder(const Folder& folder)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(folder);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer syncFolder (stub)";
+    emit folderSyncStarted(folder.name());
+    // In reality, we would connect to IMAP, list messages, etc.
+    emit folderSyncFinished(folder.name(), true);
+    return true;
+}
+
+QVector<Folder> ImapSynchronizer::getFolders() const
+{
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer getFolders (stub)";
+    // Return a default inbox folder
+    QVector<Folder> folders;
+    folders.append(Folder(1, m_account.id(), "Inbox", "", true, false, false, false, 0, QDateTime::currentDateTime()));
+    return folders;
+}
+
+QVector<MailItem> ImapSynchronizer::fetchMailItems(const QString& folderId, 
+                                                  qint64 sinceUid)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(folderId);
+    Q_UNUSED(sinceUid);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer fetchMailItems (stub)";
+    // Return a dummy mail item for testing
+    QVector<MailItem> items;
+    items.append(MailItem(1, "Test Subject", "sender@example.com", "me@example.com",
+                          QDateTime::currentDateTime(), false, false));
+    return items;
+}
+
+bool ImapSynchronizer::appendMailItem(const QString& folderId, const MailItem& item)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(folderId);
+    Q_UNUSED(item);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer appendMailItem (stub)";
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool ImapSynchronizer::updateMailItemFlags(const QString& folderId, 
+                                          const QString& itemUid,
+                                          bool read, bool flagged)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(folderId);
+    Q_UNUSED(itemUid);
+    Q_UNUSED(read);
+    Q_UNUSED(flagged);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer updateMailItemFlags (stub)";
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool ImapSynchronizer::deleteMailItem(const QString& folderId, 
+                                     const QString& itemUid)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(folderId);
+    Q_UNUSED(itemUid);
+    qDebug() << "IMAP Synchronizer deleteMailItem (stub)";
+    return true;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.h b/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3325f53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/imap/imapsynchronizer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../synchronizer.h"
+#include <QObject>
+
+class ImapSynchronizer : public Synchronizer
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit ImapSynchronizer(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+    ~ImapSynchronizer() override = default;
+
+    // Synchronizer interface
+    bool initialize(const Account& account) override;
+    bool syncFolder(const Folder& folder) override;
+    QVector<Folder> getFolders() const override;
+    QVector<MailItem> fetchMailItems(const QString& folderId, 
+                                     qint64 sinceUid = 0) override;
+    bool appendMailItem(const QString& folderId, const MailItem& item) override;
+    bool updateMailItemFlags(const QString& folderId, 
+                            const QString& itemUid,
+                            bool read, bool flagged) override;
+    bool deleteMailItem(const QString& folderId, 
+                       const QString& itemUid) override;
+
+private:
+    // Placeholder for IMAP connection state (would use libetpan in reality)
+    bool m_connected{false};
+    QString m_host;
+    quint16 m_port{993};
+    QString m_username;
+    QString m_password;
+    bool m_useSsl{true};
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/services/synchronizer.cpp b/src/services/synchronizer.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d99c7c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/synchronizer.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include "synchronizer.h"
+
+Synchronizer::Synchronizer(QObject* parent)
+    : QObject(parent)
+{
+}
\ No newline at end of file