Lyle Taylor has joined Colchester United on a one-year deal according to the club’s official website.
Now 34, Taylor is very much in his latter years but will still be able to offer something for the U’s. With over 350 appearances in the EFL to his name, he’s got a plethora of experience to draw upon which should in turn help some of the younger players at the club.
The striker has had quite the career, with Colchester joining a rather long list of EFL clubs. It would be easy to describe Taylor as a journeyman, but he has had a rather significant impact at the majority of the clubs that he has represented.
Perhaps best known for his three-season spell with AFC Wimbledon, where he’d help the Dons to promotion after scoring 20 goals in the 2015/16 League One season, Taylor would take his form up a notch when playing in the third tier. A further two strong seasons would earn him a move to Charlton Athletic before then joining Nottingham Forest. He’d make Forest’s bench for two Premier League fixtures, but would be an unused substitute in both.
Recent spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United haven’t gone entirely to plan but now dropping into League Two, Taylor could prove himself as quite the asset yet again.
He’s always had ability but before his move to Wimbledon he’d encounter a slightly rough patch in his career with Sheffield United. Costing the Blades over £210,000 back in 2013 after signing from Falkirk, Taylor would score just twice in 25 senior appearances and would be sold to Scunthorpe the following season.
Despite all the hype around his signing at the time, he could well be considered a forgotten name at Bramall Lane with the Blades being one of the only clubs who he has not enjoyed a positive tenure with.
There are still hints of ability despite now being past his best but after putting up three goals and two assists for Cambridge last season in the third tier, he should have a positive impact for his new club.
Writer’s View
There’s a lot to like about the way that the Cowley brothers are going about their business at Colchester United this summer and they should almost certainly improve on their 22nd placed finish last season. Despite now being 34, Taylor will have also been brought in to help some of the younger players in the squad and he’s a rather astute signing.
With over 100 goals now in the EFL, we haven’t seen the last of the striker just yet and he could well have a rather productive season now back in the fourth tier for the first time since 2016.
Senior Editor
