COLCHESTER United have completed their fourth summer signing after snapping up Arsenal youngster Mauro Bandeira.

The 19-year-old, described as a 'energetic box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal' on the Arsenal website, will spent the whole of the 2023-24 campaign with the U's on loan from the Gunners, after agreeing a deal to move to the JobServe Community Stadium.

Gazette:

Bandeira has just enjoyed a productive 2022-23 season with Arsenal, being named among the substitutes for the club's first team on three occasions and making 20 appearances in Premier League 2, scoring three goals.

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He played for the club's under-21 side in three of their EFL Trophy group games last season, against Cambridge United, Ipswich Town and Stevenage.

Bandeira signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2022, having come through the Academy ranks at the North London club.

 

The Portuguese midfielder was previously part of the QPR academy, before joining the Gunners at the age of 13, in 2016.

Bandeira was awarded his first professional contract having played 26 times at under-18 level, as well as making his under-23 debut, in the 2021-22 season.

 

Bandeira, a keen martial artist when he was younger, will train with his Colchester team-mates for the first time this afternoon ahead of tonight's game against Stevenage, to be played at St Neots FC.

His arrival is Colchester's fourth - and third loan deal - of the summer, joining Ellis Iandolo, Nico Lawrence and Owen Goodman in signing for the club.