Colchester United have snapped up former Millwall youngster Dexter Peter on a one-year contract.

Peter has spent the last few weeks on trial with the U’s in the hope of earning a permanent deal and has impressed for their under-21 side, in Professional Development League Two.

The centre-half has shone at the heart of the defence and has now done enough to secure himself a one-year deal, with an option for a further 12 months.

Colchester academy coach Steve Ball said: “We’ve offered Dexter a contract and he’s accepted it.

“The word was getting out there about him and it was important that we got something tied up.

“We’re really excited about having him on board.

“He’s a strong, powerful and imposing presence and is naturally left-sided.

“We have some technically very good defenders here but Dexter has also got that aggressive, strong streak about him.

“He’s earned his contract with us and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that in the four games he’s played for the under-21s, we’ve kept four clean sheets.

“He’s really bought into the way we do things here – he’s enjoyed it and done well.”

Peter, who was a used substitute in Colchester under-21s’ 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Monday night, was at Millwall as a scholar but was released in February, 2015.

Since then, he has represented National South side Chelmsford City and has now done enough to secure a permanent deal at the U’s, after helping the development side to a succession of clean sheets over recent games.

Peter will compete with the likes of Jamie Harney and Cameron James for a place at the heart of the club’s under-21 defence, with the hope of challenging for a first-team spot at the Weston Homes Community Stadium next season.