FORMER Colchester United loanee Alistair Smith has signed for their League Two rivals AFC Wimbledon after joining them from Lincoln City on a season-long loan.

The 25-year-old, who made 15 appearances for the U's on loan in the second half of last season, scoring twice and helped keep them in League Two, has linked up with Johnnie Jackson's Dons.

Smith, who had been linked with a permanent move to Colchester this summer, could face Danny Cowley's side when they travel to face the Dons at Plough Lane, on the opening day of the new season.

 

Jackson told the AFC Wimbledon website: “He’s a player that we’ve been looking at for a long time

"He’s an energetic attacking midfielder, box to box, dynamic and he’s very experienced at this level. He fits right into what we’re doing this season.”

Smith, who was born in East Yorkshire, made 32 league and cup appearances for Lincoln after joining them from Sutton United on a two-year deal, last summer.

 

The Imps saw off competition from a number of their League One rivals to sign Smith last summer after he rejected a new deal with Sutton, where he had spent two years.

Smith played 78 times for Sutton in total, scoring 14 times and scooping the Young Player of the Year award, in the 2022-23 campaign.

The midfielder started his career at Mansfield Town, where he made 16 senior appearances.

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During his time at the One Call Stadium, he had loan spells at non-league clubs Kettering Town and Altrincham before then moving onto Sutton.

AFC Wimbledon Head of Football Operations, Craig Cope told the club's website: “We’re really pleased to land Alistair, he has been a target since I joined the Club and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the group.”

Lincoln director of football Jez George said: “This is a good solution for all parties.

"As Ali’s contract is up at the end of the season, we wish him well at AFC Wimbledon and his future career.”