[themaclad]

Colchester United have taken up an option to extend goalkeeper Shamal George's contract for another season.

The 24-year-old joined the U's from Liverpool in the summer of 2020 on an initial two-year deal and made 32 appearances in the 2021-22 campaign.

The League Two club have offered a new deal to former Ipswich midfielder Emyr Huws, 28, who was signed in January on a deal to the end of the season.

Defender Miles Welch-Hayes and keeper Dean Gerken have been released.

Welch-Hayes, 25, played 15 games this season, while Gerken's only appearance came in a Papa Johns Trophy match against West Ham's under-21s.

The 36-year-old made 80 appearances during his second spell with the U's after returning to the club from Ipswich in 2019, having previously played 126 times between 2002 and 2009.

[themaclad]

Other deals

Colchester United have signed goalkeeper Sam Hornby from Bradford City and Rochdale midfielder Alex Newby on two-year contracts.

The U's have paid an undisclosed fee for Hornby, 27, after he played eight games during a loan spell last season.

There is no fee involved for Newby, 26, who made 39 appearances for Rochdale last term, scoring six goals.

Colchester have also agreed a new one-year contract with Wales international midfielder Emyr Huws, 28.

He joined the club in January on a short-term deal after leaving Ipswich Town last summer and played 12 games in the second half of last season, scoring once.

Emyr Huws
Emyr Huws has won 11 international caps for Wales
Hornby will compete for the first-choice goalkeeper role with Shamal George, whose contract was extended last month.

"You have to make sure you drive each other forward, and that bodes well for the football club," he told the Colchester website.

Newby joined Rochdale from non-league Chorley in 2020 and played 82 games across two seasons.

He said: "I like to get at teams and make things happen, getting goals and assists, and I want to be a positive player who can excite the fans."

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed Ossama Ashley following his end-of-season release by West Ham United.

The 22-year-old winger, who had been on trial with the U's, has signed an initial one-year contract.

Ashley, has made two appearances for West Ham Under-21s, both against Colchester, but the second of them, in September 2021, did not turn out well.

Coming on as a half-time substitute, he lasted only nine minutes before suffering a serious ankle injury.

"I want to get as many games as possible and gain experience with the lads," he told the club website.

"I'm a physical player, I get around the pitch, I'm very hardworking and I leave everything out there."

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara on a one-year deal.

The 26-year-old was a free agent after being released by Fleetwood Town in the summer at the end of a short-term deal where he played four times.

The former Manchester United youngster spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United last season while at Burton Albion.

"I've been looking after myself, and keeping myself as fit as possible," he told the Colchester United website.

"I'm really looking forward to starting and getting back out on the grass, and getting back up to speed."

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed midfielder Charlie Owens from Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a loan deal until January 2023.

Following a two-week trial, Owens, 24, becomes U's boss Wayne Brown's fifth summer signing, with the transfer window closing in three weeks' time.

Owens made his Rangers debut in the Carabao Cup in August 2018.

He then went out on loan in January 2019 to League One Wycombe, where he made two appearances.

He then made two more appearances for QPR in the EFL Cup in August 2019, but has not played first-team football since.

Owens goes straight into the Colchester squad for Saturday's trip to Stockport County.

The U's have picked up just one point from their opening two league games, but won 1-0 in the EFL Cup first round at neighbours Ipswich in midweek.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed winger Bez Lubala on loan from Championship side Blackpool.

The 24-year-old will spend the rest of the season with the U's.

He began his career with Birmingham and spent a season with Crawley Town before signing for the Seasiders in the summer of 2020.

Lubala has made 21 appearances for Blackpool in all competitions and also had a loan spell at Northampton Town in the second half of last season.

He could make his debut for Wayne Brown's Colchester in Saturday's League Two game against Hartlepool United.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have brought in midfielder Matty Longstaff on loan from Newcastle United until January.

Longstaff, 22, the younger brother of Sean, has played 14 times in the Premier League and scored the winner on his debut against Manchester United.

He made 18 appearances on loan in League Two at Mansfield Town in the second half of last season.

The U's have also signed Kwesi Appiah on a season-long loan from fellow League Two side Crawley Town.

The much-travelled 32-year-old Ghana international striker had been with Crawley since arriving in August 2021 following a spell with Indian Super League side North East United.

He scored 11 goals in 26 league appearances last season for Crawley.

But the former Cambridge United and AFC Wimbledon man has so far been limited to just one start this season.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed left-back Connor Wood on loan from fellow League Two club Leyton Orient.

The 26-year-old has joined for the remainder of the season, subject to the necessary paperwork being ratified.

Wood has played only twice for fourth-tier leaders Orient this season, both games in cup competitions, after 36 appearances in 2021-22.

Meanwhile, midfielder Matty Longstaff's loan from Newcastle has come to an end because of a serious knee injury.

The 22-year-old was hurt in the win over Gillingham on 26 December and the Magpies said scans have confirmed damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Longstaff made 10 appearances during his spell with Colchester.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed midfielder Arthur Read from Stevenage.

The 23-year-old joins on a two-and-a-half-year deal for a "five-figure fee" according to Stevenage, who also say they maintain "a stake in his future".

Read, who started his career at Luton and went on to have a spell at Brentford, made 83 appearances for Stevenage after initially arriving on loan in September 2020.

He could make his Colchester debut at Harrogate on Saturday.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed Irish defender Fiacre Kelleher on a two-and-a-half year deal from Bradford City for an undisclosed fee.

Kelleher, 26, began his career at Celtic and had spells in League Two with Macclesfield Town before joining the Bantams a year ago.

He is the U's third signing in the transfer window after the arrivals of Connor Wood and Arthur Read.

Kelleher is set for his debut at Harrogate Town on Saturday.

He joins with the club 21st in League Two, four points above the relegation zone.