Colchester United defender George Elokobi has joined the U's Coca-Cola Championship rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on a two and a half year contract.

The defender sealed his move to Molineux for an undisclosed fee, in the final hour of the transfer window.

Elokobi, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, has finally had his wish for a move away from Layer Road granted after he handed in a transfer request last November.

The Cameroon-born defender made 41 league appearances for the U's, scoring three goals after joining them from non-league side Dulwich Hamlet in August, 2004.

Meanwhile former Colchester utility man Greg Halford has completed a loan switch to Charlton Athletic until the end of the season.

The England under-20 international has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Sunderland, following his move to the Stadium of Light last summer from Reading.

Halford, who left Colchester 12 months ago, will be reunited with ex-U's boss Phil Parkinson, who is assistant manager at the Valley and former U's team-mate Chris Iwelumo.