FORMER Colchester United striker Michael Folivi has signed for Chelmsford City.

The 24-year-old, who scored six goals in 13 starts for the U's in the 2020-21 season, made his Clarets debut in their 1-0 win over Tonbridge Angels in National League South, on Monday night.

 

Folivi was due to sign a fresh contract with Colchester in the summer of 2021, having played his part in helping the U’s stay in League Two under Hayden Mullins.

But the former Watford striker suffered an Achilles tendon injury while taking part in off-season fitness work, a day before he was due to sign a new deal at Colchester.

 

Folivi has not played competitively since then but will now be looking to make an impact at his new club Chelmsford.

Chelmsford boss Robbie Simpson told the club's website: “Michael is a top player, he’s a player that’s highly thought of by teams in the football league.

“He’s just had terrible luck with a bad injury just before he was due to sign a good deal with a club in the Football League, it then didn't materialise and he’s been fighting to get back fit ever since.

"He’s been fit a little while now and been training with Full-Time clubs.

“Between now and the end of the season he wants to get games and we’re very lucky that he already knows a few of our players and having spoken to him myself on the phone I know what he wants to do, he wants to get back playing and scoring goals.

Gazette:

"Whatever happens in the summer he wants to give himself the best options available. He’ll do that by helping us.

“We’re really thankful to his representatives for seeing us as the platform to give that to him and we’re thankful to Michael for believing in us and we’ll certainly put our faith in him and give him everything he needs to continue the last stage of his rehab essentially, but that involves playing games.

“We hope that he’ll soon be scoring goals for us and we’re very excited to have Michael, he’s an all round top player who can play as a striker that can play any type of role a striker can as well as playing as an advanced midfielder or out wide so he gives us plenty of options to utilise him and we can’t wait to see him wearing a Claret shirt that’s for sure.”