Colchester United have signed Luke Ige following his release from Premier League new boys Aston Villa.

The 18-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the U's and will initially link up with their under-23 squad, after leaving Villa Park at the end of last season.

Ige, who is a right-sided player who can play at right-back, featured twice for the U's under-23 on trial in the final weeks of the 2018-19 campaign.

He signed for Villa at the age of 15 and came through the academy ranks at the Midlands club, after signing a scholarship at 16.

The teenager was involved in Aston Villa's first-team pre-season preparations, last summer.

Ige joins Matthew Weaire, Danny Collinge and Sammie McLeod in linking up with the U's under-23 squad ahead of the new season.

Colchester are currently in the process of recruiting new under-23 and under-18 managers, following the respective departures of Kevin Horlock and Chris Llewellyn last month.

The U's are also on the hunt for a new academy manager, after Jon de Souza left the role to take charge as the club's Director of Performance.