Korey Smith has been unveiled as Cambridge United’s latest signing, joining the club on a two-year deal according to their official website.
Despite now being 33, Smith isn’t exactly slowing down just yet and the contract that he has been offered displays the fact that manager Gary Monk believes that he can get a couple of years out of him.
It is however perhaps somewhat of a surprise move that Smith has joined Cambridge, which could be considered a drop in class. That’s despite the fact that he was playing in League One last year, but that was for Derby County, who he helped to automatic promotion to the Championship.
Turning out 32 times for the Rams, 22 of those being starts, Smith was a regular in-and-around the first team for the majority of the season. He would’ve no doubt made plenty more appearances had it not been for a knee injury suffered in late November, which would keep him on the sidelines until February.
The signing of Smith seems to be an incredibly positive one by Cambridge and he brings plenty of quality with him from a higher level. With 245 Championship appearances to his name for the likes of Norwich City, Barnsley, Bristol City and Swansea City, he should prove to be a very good acquisition.
He’d break onto the scene for the Canaries back in the 2009/10 season, a year where the club would gain promotion to the Championship after winning the League One title. That wasn’t the only time that he’d win the third tier title, also taking the honours with Bristol City during the 2014/15 season,
Although that won’t be the ambition for Cambridge, moreso survival, his winning mentality should serve them very well.
Speaking to club media on his latest signing, manager Gary Monk said:
“Korey is another signing of real pedigree, having spent the vast majority of his career playing in the Championship or fighting for promotion out of League One.
“He will add quality, experience and a winner’s mentality to the team, so I am delighted to welcome him to the Club.”
Writer’s View
After gaining promotion with Derby last season it does come as a surprise to see Smith ‘drop’ to Cambridge. Although that is somewhat harsh on the U’s, who continue to establish themselves as a solid League One outfit, there is an obvious difference in ambition from that of what the midfielder was used to last season.
His winning mentality as well as experience will serve the club incredibly well and he could become an integral part of the team both on the pitch, as well as in the changing room. If able to show the same level of form as previous seasons then there’s plenty to like about this move and it seems like a great deal of business with him also joining in time for a training camp.
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