FORMER Colchester United youngster Sammie McLeod has joined Northern Irish club Portadown.

The 21-year-old midfielder has linked up with the Ports, who play their football in the Northern Ireland Football League Premiership.

McLeod made two first-team appearances for Colchester, making his first professional start for the U’s last September when he was named in their starting line-up for the EFL Trophy game against West Ham United under-21s.

He made his first senior appearance earlier this season as a substitute in the 2-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.

The former Leicester City midfielder was one of seven young players released by the U's, in February.

McLeod said: "I’m really excited to have signed for such a great club. I’m ready to progress and kick on with my career. Hopefully the start of something great.

"I also want to give a special mention to my mum who passed away in April 2020, every time I score I always look up to the sky and remember my beautiful, strong mum. She’ll never be forgotten."

McLeod had time in Leicester's academy before moving to Isthmian League division one north side Maldon and Tiptree in 2018.

He impressed under Wayne Brown and earned a move to Colchester, in 2019.

McLeod was most recently with National League South side Concord Rangers, who he joined after leaving the U's.

Portadown manager Matthew Tipton said: "I’m excited by this signing. We’ve watched Sammie for a little while and spoke to him and his agent and we think he fits what we’re trying to do.

"He’s still a very young man but he’s played first team football at Colchester United and has also been out on loan in the Conference South and below in England so it shows us he can do it.

"He’s a good goal scoring record coming through the youths as a midfielder, he went on loan and scored over a dozen goals so for me it’s the kind of thing we’re trying to build into the midfield.

"He’s 6 foot 3 and gets around the pitch, good on the ball and comfortable and again it’s the model that we’re looking to fit, we want players who are young and hungry that can push on and push us on down the line."