FORMER Colchester United defender Nico Lawrence has a new club.
The 21-year-old, who left Southampton in September, has signed for National League outfit York City on a permanent deal.
Lawrence spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Colchester, from Southampton.
The central defender, who arrived from non-league football and became a key part of Southampton’s under-21 side, had three loan spells away from St Mary’s during his time there, going out to the U’s, MK Dons and Torquay United.
We are delighted to reveal the signing of Nico Lawrence on a permanent deal.
➡️ https://t.co/IUmkdypJGg
Welcome to York, Nico! #YCFC 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/rya0R59xt5— York City FC (@YorkCityFC) November 6, 2025
He made 50 senior appearances across those loan spells and was named on the bench when Saints faced Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday.
Lawrence signed a new contract at Southampton in April 2024, which was due to keep him on the South Coast until 2026.
But the young defender left the Saints earlier this season, with his deal ended with a view to helping the young defender facilitate a move back into senior football.
Lawrence made five appearances for Colchester before suffering a serious ankle injury in their 3-0 win at Gillingham, soon after joining.
The Kinetic Foundation graduate returned to Southampton for treatment and was on the verge of a comeback for Colchester before he suffered a dislocated shoulder in training that kept him out of action for a further period.
Buzzing to be here, can’t wait to get going and meet you all!❤️💙 https://t.co/U9dpaynpCh
— Nico lawrence (@Nicolawrence73) November 6, 2025
He was on a season-long loan at the U's but returned to Southampton, midway through the deal.
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