Following the release of the retained list, it was announced that Freddie Sears will depart at the end of his current contract.
Sears rejoined the U’s in the summer of 2021 following a six-year spell at Ipswich Town. Freddie initially departed Colchester to join the play-off chasing Tractor Boys in the Championship in 2015, with the Suffolk side then falling just short of promotion to the Premier League.
Freddie first joined the U’s back in 2012 on loan from West Ham United, netting his first goal on 6th April in a 1-1 draw against Hartlepool at home.
After his loan spell came to an end he put pen-to-paper on a permanent contract with Colchester, scoring eight goals in thirty-seven appearances in the 2012/13 season while forming a memorable partnership with Jabo Ibehre.
Sears had his best goal-scoring season yet in 2013/14 with twelve in thirty-two outings, including four in his last four games with goals against Stevenage and Brentford.
Fourteen goals in thirty games followed in the next campaign, with his form attracting interest from Championship clubs. Ipswich were the ones to capture Sears’ signature, with nine more goals coming before the end of the season.
Freddie moved back to the club in 2021 on a two-year deal after leaving Portman Road, returning to take the number 11 shirt once again.
Finding goals hard to come by this season, the striker had a prolific first campaign back at the JobServe Community Stadium; Freddie hit seventeen goals in fifty-three outings throughout the 2021/22 season – his best goal-scoring haul since leaving the U’s.
Sears departs after making 196 appearances, scoring 57 goals - putting him twentieth in the all-time leading goalscorers at the club.
Everyone at Colchester United would like to wish Freddie luck in his future career.
