Former MK Dons and Sunderland defender Tom Flanagan has been confirmed as the latest arrival at League Two side Colchester United, the club have officially confirmed.
The 15-cap Northern Ireland international spent the last two seasons in League One with Shrewsbury Town following his departure from Sunderland in 2022 but left the Shrews at the end of the 2023/24 campaign after his contract expired.
Nevertheless, Flanagan wasn’t without a club for long and has been snapped up by Colchester in England’s fourth tier. He is the side’s ninth signing of the summer transfer window thus far. Other acquisitions include Stevenage winger Harry Anderson, goalkeeper Matt Macey, Cambridge United frontman Lyle Taylor and Charlton Athletic star Jack Payne, all of whom left their previous clubs as free agents.
Speaking to club media following his arrival, Flanagan revealed that he is excited about the move and admitted that head coach Danny Cowley and his assistant manager-brother, Nicky, were the main driving forces behind his decision to drop down to League Two.
“Danny got in touch and asked what I think and I was really motivated to make it happen,” the 32-year-old said.
“That was it really, I find myself here and I’m really excited about it.”
“I looked at the table and the squad and obviously know Danny and Nicky – and that was the main motivation factor,” Flanagan continued.
“At my age, I want to finish up with a bit of success and enjoy my last few years.
“I wanted to do something I was going to enjoy, and I know I am going to enjoy it here – I’m excited about the project.”
Flanagan came through the academy system at MK Dons when the club were in League One back in 2009. Despite becoming a regular squad player during the 2011/12 campaign, he made merely 45 total appearances for the Dons across five seasons before eventually leaving to join Burton Albion.
It was with the Brewers where he arguably played his best football which eventually led to Sunderland snapping him up back in 2018. The Northern Irishman helped the club win the EFL Trophy in 2021 but left halfway through their promotion season in January 2022. Colchester United will now become the 10th club that the experienced central defender has played for during his career.
Writer’s View
This is a great signing for the U’s. Flanagan may be at the back end of his career now but still has plenty more to give and has an abundance of experience in the EFL which will benefit some of the younger players in the squad.
Colchester have been doing very astute pieces of business in the transfer window so far and it’s highly unlikely that Flanagan will be the last player through the doors before the end of August as Cowley looks to desperately avoid a repeat of last season’s relegation scare.
Deputy Head of Writing
