The U’s sign Elliot Omozusi on a two-year deal
Cambridge United have moved to bring Leyton Orient right back Elliot Omozusi to the Abbey Stadium until at least the end of the 2016/17 season.
The battle-hardened defender joins the U’s having signed a two-year deal with the club, to ending a four year spell at Brisbane Road, where he accumulated nearly 150 Sky Bet League One appearances.
Making his professional debut for Fulham back in the 2006/07 season against Leicester City in the FA Cup, Omozusi went on to feature for the London side eight times in the Premier League during the following year.
A product of the Cottager’s youth system, Omozusi enjoyed 24 appearances during a loan spell with Championship side Norwich City in 2008/09, before a brief period at The Valley with League One outfit Charlton Athletic.
The 26-year old switched to previous club Leyton Orient for the start of the 2010/11 season, and fast become an integral part of Russell Slade’s side to challenge for promotion to the Championship.
Omozusi now arrives at the Abbey Stadium hungry to play a similarly important role for the U’s, and tells Cambridge-United.co.uk: “I’m over the moon and glad to have got the deal done because I have been in discussions with the club since the end of the season, with the view of a move this summer.
“I am looking forward to getting out there and just playing football for this club. We all hope for a strong season, but I’m sure quietly we will believe that there is a good chance to get promoted.
“Going into next year, the club has got a very good basis having signed some top quality players, so it’s onwards and upwards.”
Talking about the other additions to the U’s back line for the 2015/16 season, Omozusi added: “I have played against Leon (Legge) a couple of times last season and he is a very good player, which means already it looks like we have a strong team.
“Mark (Roberts) will definitely bring a lot of experience to the side and you need that if you want to do anything in League Two.
“I think we have a strong foundation at the back and will looking threatening going forward too.”
Currently enjoying a second chance in professional football, following a 16 month prison sentence back in 2011, Elliot has since worked hard to turn the page on his chequered past.
He reveals that the vast number of projects undertaken by the club within the local community was an aspect he found extremely appealing when making his decision to join the U’s.
“One of the reasons I signed was because I spoke to the Chief Executive Jez George, who informed me of all the community projects that goes on behind the scenes at Cambridge United and that’s something I hold pretty dearly.
“I have had a chequered past but I have come through it and being involved in the community is something that means a lot to me.
“Hopefully I can bring a lot to the club in that regard as well.”
Meanwhile, United boss Richard Money states his satisfaction at the club being able to land the right back’s signature, having gone to great lengths to pursue his services.
“We have had to work extremely hard to secure Elliot's signature but it has been well worth the effort and wait,” he said.
“He is most certainly another quality addition to the group and in our opinion the best right back available to us this summer, which has made him our number one target since the end of last season.
“Elliot is another player who has vast experience of what we are aspiring to achieve and we are absolutely delighted he has decided to come to the club.”