BRADLEY Ihionvien has left Colchester United on transfer deadline day and joined League One side Peterborough United on a three-year deal.

The talented 20-year-old striker has made a surprise departure from the JobServe Community Stadium, just before the transfer window shut.

Ihionvien came through the U's academy and made his senior debut for the club under Wayne Brown in May, 2022 before bursting onto the EFL scene, last summer.

He scored his first senior goal for the U's in a game at Gillingham last August and made 34 league and cup appearances for them in the 2023-24 campaign under three different permanent managers, scoring five times including crucial equalisers at Salford City and Swindon Town.

 

Ihionvien started Colchester's opening League Two game of the season at AFC Wimbledon earlier this month, along with their Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford on Wednesday night.

He also featured as a substitute in their games against Reading and Harrogate Town.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley said yesterday that the club were ready for interest in their young players, before the deadline.

He emphasised that if any of their talented players were to leave, it would have to be in a deal that suited both the individual and the football club.

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

He said: "Of course, we have some brilliant young players at the club, so our phone rings on a regular basis for them.

"There's a lot of other clubs at a higher level that would like them.

"The great thing here is that it's always on our terms.

"We always think about the young player but we always think about the football club, as well."

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson told the club's website: "He is a young player that we have been monitoring over the last 12 months.

"He played against us in pre-season and he performed like we expected him to do. 

"He has pace, he is strong and left-footed, which is slightly different to the strikers we have at the football club.

"He is a player with a lot of development in him and I am excited to work with him."

Ihionvien's departure currently leaves Colchester with Lyle Taylor, Tom Hopper, Samson Tovide and Matt Jay as their main forward options.