Colchester-born Ben Morris joins SL Championship side Detroit City

Morris, 23, has left Ipswich Town and joined Detroit for the 2023 season.

His contract was set to expire in the summer but the League One side have agreed to terminate it six months earlier, in order for the forward to explore an opportunity within the second tier of football in the United States.

Forward-thinking.⏩⏩⏩@BenMorris99 joins Detroit City FC from @IpswichTown on a two-year contract that will see him in Rouge and Gold in 2023 with an option in place for the 2024 season.

📰:https://t.co/oE5jn75wP5

Pending league & federation approval.#DCTID pic.twitter.com/J5j0Ag8Sh4

— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) February 15, 2023

Detroit City have an option to keep him for the 2024 season, with football in the US played through the summer.

Morris spent almost 16 years with Ipswich, coming through the club's academy.

He made one senior start for the Tractor Boys, featuring in their 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest in April, 2018.

After nearly 16 years at @IpswichTown , it’s time to say goodbye.
I want to say a massive thank you to all the staff, teammates and the fans who have helped and supported me throughout the years. 💙🚜 pic.twitter.com/lF8MUYDkzF

— Ben Morris (@BenMorris99) February 15, 2023

Morris, who won England under-19, under-18 and under-17 caps, has had loan spells at Forest Green Rovers and Woking during his time at Portman Road.

Detroit boss James had a spell coaching at Colchester in the mid-1980s, where he took up the post of reserve-team boss at Layer Road,

The former Ipswich apprentice also coached in the Ipswich academy and has since had spells coaching at the likes of LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers and Chicago Fire.