Anthony Wordsworth has completed his move from Colchester United to Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old midfielder has signed a deal until the summer of 2015, with the option of a further year.

Wordsworth has come a long way since joining Colchester United as an under-16 player, following his release by Charlton Athletic.

The U’s spotted a midfield player with an abundance of skill and a potent left foot and have been rewarded for their investment.

Wordsworth has flourished since signing his first professional contract with Colchester in 2007, after completing his apprenticeship.

He was the U’s youth-team captain under Joe Dunne and also skippered the club’s reserve side, with his performances catching the eye of first-team boss Geraint Williams.

Williams handed Wordsworth his senior debut as a substitute in the U’s League Cup first-round defeat at Shrewsbury Town in August, 2007.

He was made to wait for his next first-team appearance for Colchester though, coming on as a late substitute in their 1-1 draw with Cardiff City at Layer later that season.

Wordsworth’s first senior U’s start eventually arrived in their Championship defeat against Hull City at Layer Road in March, 2008.

The midfielder went on to become a regular for Colchester after that, playing under Williams and then under Paul Lambert, Aidy Boothroyd and John Ward, as his career blossomed.

Last season, Ward handed Wordsworth the responsibility of a key advanced midfield role - and he thrived on it.

It was arguably his best-ever campaign for Colchester.

He made 47 appearances for them in that campaign and scored 13 times, including a superb long-range strike in their 2-0 triumph at future champions Charlton Athletic.

After Ward’s departure as U’s manager last September, new boss Joe Dunne handed Wordsworth the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Kem Izzet.

Wordsworth has scored three goals from midfield this season but as results deteriorated, so too did his form.

He was dropped from the U’s starting line-up for their game for their Boxing Day game against Brentford, before being restored to the starting line-up the following game.

Wordsworth has also picked up ten bookings this season, the most of any individual player in the Football League, leading to a suspension which he has just served.

His relationship with Colchester fans has not always been rosy; some supporters have accused him of being lazy and of not being a team player.

But Wordsworth has shown enough during his time at Colchester that he has the quality and talent to play at a higher level.

Now he has got a move to the Championship, he will be determined to prove that is the case.