SAMMIE Szmodics has left Colchester United to join Championship side Bristol City.

The 23-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Robins with an option for a further year.

City have paid an undisclosed compensation fee to Colchester as Szmodics is under the age of 24.

It has been reported that the U's have received in the region of £750,000 for their former youth-team player but this has not been confirmed by either club.

Szmodics made more than 150 league and cup appearances for Colchester, scoring 38 goals, since making his senior debut for them in September, 2013, ironically at Bristol City.

The former Stanway School pupil, who has been at the U's since the age of seven and has raised through the academy ranks at the JobServe Community Stadium, finished the 2018-19 campaign as the club's top scorer last season, with 15 goals.

Colchester agreed a fee with Peterborough United for Szmodics last week.

But the attacker decided not to discuss personal terms with the League One club.

Championship sides Hull City, Derby County and Leeds United have also been linked with Szmodics.

But Lee Johnson's Robins side have won the race for the player, who will now play his football in the second tier of English football.