Colchester Gazette

The 18-year-old, who initially come up through Ipswich Town’s Academy prior to joining the Spurs youth set-up, has linked up with the Iron and enjoyed a careful, measured debut for his new club in their 2-0 win over Truro City, in the National League.

Braintree boss Steve Pitt said: “He did very well on his debut.

“We were stretched again with injuries, suspensions and an international call up for Tommy Smith but we should have more back in time for our trip to Scunthorpe, next Saturday.”

Logan signed his first professional contract with Spurs in January, 2024.

The Cambridge-born defender joined the North London club’s academy from Ipswich Town in early 2023.

Logan recently made the jump up to under-21 football for Spurs and played for them in their 4-4 draw at League Two side Bristol Rovers in the Vertu Trophy, in August.

Logan is a versatile defender and can play as a left-sided centre-back or left-back.

Brill, who had a stint with the U's in the 2016/17 campaign, had been working as Head of Academy Goalkeeping at the Premier League Club.

But the 39-year-old has now been promoted to First Team Assistant Goalkeeping Coach at Spurs, where he will work alongside newly-appointed First Team Goalkeeper Coach, Fabian Otte.

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Brill was at Luton Town between the ages of nine and 23 and made more than 100 appearances for them during two spells at Kenilworth Road.

He played in all three Football League divisions for the Hatters and helped them win the Football League Trophy with a win over Scunthorpe United at Wembley, in 2009.

After a spell in Scotland with Inverness CT and then Motherwell, the goalkeeper then linked up with Colchester.

He did not make a first-team appearance during his time at the JobServe Community Stadium and linked up with Leyton Orient as a goalkeeping coach, in 2017.

Brill came out of retirement for the O's and became a vital member of the squad, helping them win promotion from the National League.

Colchester midfielder's contract detail confirmed ahead of season

He reverted back to his role as goalkeeping coach again with the O’s at the start of the 2020-21 season before making the move to Spurs' academy, in 2021.

The first team goalkeeping coaching changes at Spurs follow Rob Burch's departure as the North London club's first team goalkeeping coach.

The promising 19-year-old, who played with the likes of Samson Tovide and Frankie Terry during his time in the U’s academy, has penned a contract with the Premier League club until 2027 after joining them from Leeds United.

McFadden, who can play across the forward areas but primarily played on the wing for Leeds, will now link up with Spurs under-21 squad, ahead of the forthcoming season.

In a statement, Tottenham Hotspur said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Max McFadden following his departure from Leeds United.

“The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a contract with the club until 2027 and will join up with our under-21 squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

“Max has spent the last three years in the Academy at the Elland Road side, stepping up to their under-21s in the summer of 2024 and playing against us in the Premier League 2 last season.

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“Prior to joining Leeds, Max spent time in the youth ranks at Colchester United, West Ham United and Southend United.”

Having played for the Colchester academy, McFadden left the U’s to join Leeds in August, 2022.

Having initially signed on scholarship terms as a 16-year-old, McFadden signed his first professional contract at Leeds in July, 2023.

The U’s have snapped up the 20-year-old forward on a long-term contract, after he was released by Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer following 14 years in their academy.

Williams was a regular for Spurs in Premier League 2 last season and also featured in every game for their under-21s, in their Vertu Trophy campaign.

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The young forward is yet to taste experience of EFL football but Sheringham thinks moving to Colchester will enhance Williams’ game – and the former U’s striker says his old club can be a perfect location for him, as he looks to progress with his career.

Speaking to Racing Tipster, former U’s striker Sheringham, who played 20 times for Colchester in the 2007-08 season, said: “Well, he’s 20 years old. And unless you’re truly exceptional, you can’t be expected to jump into the first team and replace Dom Solanke.

“Playing some first-team football in the lower divisions, it’s what a lot of players do. It’s what I had to do.

“I wasn’t in the first team when I was 18 years old, so I was sent out on loan.

“There, you get to learn your game better than being a sub or a relief player when the first team needs a rest.

“Rather than playing reserve football and learning football where you’re learning a little bit here and there along the way, you’re playing for other people’s livelihoods as well as your own development.

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“That can only enhance your game. It toughens you up and makes you a true professional.

“And Colchester is a lovely football club with a lovely stadium to go and play in. It’s not far from North London, either.

“I wish him well. I think this could be good for him.”

COLCHESTER United completed their first summer signing on Friday when they snapped up former Spurs youngster, Jaden Williams.

The 20-year-old has joined the U’s following a 14-year stint in the Tottenham Hotspur academy, where he won the under-18 Premier League Cup and under-21 PL2 Trophy.

Williams is not the first former Spurs youngster to join Colchester – here are 11 players who have trod a similar path, in the past.

Mark Yeates

The winger became a big favourite at Colchester United, having started his professional career at Spurs.

Yeates initially joined the U's on loan from Tottenham at the start of their memorable 2005-06 season, playing a huge part in helping Phil Parkinson's side win promotion to the Championship.

The winger, who made four competitive appearances for Spurs, had loan spells at Leicester City and Hull City before joining Colchester on a permanent basis from Spurs in 2007.

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He spent two years at the U's, making 81 appearances and scoring the first-ever competitive goal at the JobServe Community Stadium in 2008 before leaving to join Middlesbrough in July, 2009.

Now 40, he is currently an academy coach at Fleetwood Town.

Luke Prosser

Prosser started out as a youngster in the Spurs academy, before moving onto Port Vale.

The 37-year-old enjoyed an impressive 17-year playing career, making more than 400 league and cup appearances as a professional, winning promotion with both Southend United and Northampton Town and playing at Wembley Stadium in the Football League Trophy Final.

Prosser joined Colchester in 2016 and made 119 league and cup appearances for the club under John McGreal, during a four-year spell at the JobServe Community Stadium.

In his final season with the U’s he played 45 times as they reached the League Two play-offs, where they lost out to Exeter City.

Prosser’s final game as a professional came for Stevenage in their League Two game at Carlisle United on April 30, 2022.

Phil Ifil

The full-back burst onto the scene for Spurs at the start of the 2004-05 season, playing in their opening-day game against Liverpool.

Ifil went onto make a further two Premier League starts for Tottenham Hotspur after coming through their academy but left the North London club in January 2008 to join Colchester.

He went onto make 60 league and cup appearances for the U's, scoring twice, before leaving to join Dagenham and Redbridge in August, 2010.

Kevin Watson

Midfield maestro Kevin Watson wrote himself into Colchester United folklore after helping them win promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history, in 2006.

The skilful midfielder made more than 100 appearances for the U's, after joining them in 2004.

Watson had started out at Spurs, where he trained alongside the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Darren Anderton and Gary Mabbutt and played under the likes of Terry Venables.

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He scored on his first-team debut in a League Cup win over Brentford at White Hart Lane in 1992 and made five senior appearances for Spurs before leaving them permanently, in 1996.

Watson had an excellent playing career making more than 400 appearances, also representing the likes of Swindon Town, Luton Town and Rotherham United.

He has since gone into coaching and has had spells in charge of the likes of Bishop's Stortford, Billericay Town and Ebbsfleet United and was assistant manager to Teddy Sheringham, at Stevenage.

Kane Vincent-Young

Kane Vincent-Young returned to Colchester for a second spell, in the January window.

He had made 126 league and cup appearances for the U's first time around after making his professional debut for them in August 2015, following his release by Spurs.

Vincent-Young spent four full seasons playing for Colchester's first team, before leaving to join Ipswich, in the summer of 2019.

He spent time at Wycombe Wanderers, before his recent return to the JobServe Community Stadium.

Chay Cooper

CHAY Cooper joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southend as a scholar, in 2017.

He was loaned back to Southend to play in their Under-23 team before being released by Spurs, at the end of the 2020–21 season.

Cooper signed for Colchester United in September 2021 and made 21 league and cup appearances for them before leaving last summer to join Braintree Town.

Johnnie Jackson

Having started his career at Spurs, the versatile Jackson first joined Colchester on loan for the final two months of the 2002-03 season.

He returned to the U's on a permanent basis in the summer of 2006, helping them record their highest-ever finish after they ended up tenth in their first-ever season in the Championship.

Jackson, who made 24 first-team appearances for Spurs, was Colchester's Player of the Year the following season but could not prevent them from being relegated to League One.

He went on to play for Notts County and Charlton Athletic and last season, led AFC Wimbledon to promotion to League One via the play-offs.

Nathan Oduwa

Colchester United signed Nathan Oduwa on a month’s loan from Spurs, in 2016.

The left winger managed only two substitute appearances for the U’s.

Oduwa joined Tottenham at the age of 11 and penned his first professional contract for them in July, 2012.

Along with Colchester, he had loan spells at Luton Town, Peterborough United and Glasgow Rangers before leaving Spurs to join Slovenian club, Olimpija Ljubljana in 2017.

Kenny McEvoy

McEvoy joined Colchester United on loan from Spurs in January, 2015.

His sole appearance for the U’s came as an 89th-minute substitute in their 4-1 defeat at Sheffield United in League One on February 10, 2015.

McEvoy, who joined the Spurs academy in the summer of 2011, did not make a senior appearance in his time at Tottenham but was involved in several of their Europa League squads.

McEvoy returned to Spurs and later had loan spells at Stevenage and York City before leaving the North London club, in 2017.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international returned to his native Ireland to play for Waterford.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels played for Colchester United at the end of his successful professional career, having started it at Spurs.

Daniels played 19 times in total for Colchester, in the 2021-22 season.

He had joined Colchester on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, having been training with them for a number of weeks following his departure from Portsmouth.

The former AFC Bournemouth defender’s final game for the U’s was in a game at Forest Green Rovers in January 2022, his 500th career appearance.

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Daniels had started out in Tottenham’s academy, signing his first professional contract for them in the summer of 2005.

He did not make a senior appearance for Spurs but had an impressive career, making more than 250 appearances for AFC Bournemouth, many of which were in the Premier League.

He has most recently been coaching in Watford’s academy.

Stephen Grenfell

Back in the late 1980s, full-back Stephen Grenfell spent more than two years at Colchester United having started his career in the Spurs academy.

He had signed apprentice forms at White Hart Lane in the summer of 1984 and joined the U’s on loan, two years later.

Grenfell eventually joined Colchester on a permanent basis when he completed a £15,000 transfer to Layer Road and made his debut in a 3-0 win over Wolves, at Layer Road.

He made 70 league appearances for Colchester before leaving to join Bromley and also played for the likes of Dagenham and Redbridge and Aylesbury United, before later coaching in the Spurs academy.

The 20-year-old forward has joined the U’s and has become their first summer signing, after leaving Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season.

Williams, who has joined Colchester on a long-term contract, primarily operated as a central striker for Spurs academy sides but also frequently played across the front positions.

Colchester clinch signing of Spurs youngster Jaden Williams

The Harrow-born youngster is now ready to show off his talents at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Williams told cu-fc.com: “I’m delighted to be here.

“Colchester fans can expect a lot of variety, whether it’s scoring and assisting or just being an out-and-out threat to opponents.

“I feel like my energy and how I conduct myself will get fans off their seats.

“I’m ready to showcase what I can do.”

Williams had been at Spurs for 14 years, having joined them at the age of six.

He has just enjoyed an impressive season for Tottenham’s under-21s and trained with the senior squad, while also featuring in every game of their Vertu Trophy campaign.

Earlier in his time in Spurs’ academy, he won the Premier League 2 Play-Off Final Trophy and Under-18 Premier League Cup with the North London club.

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Williams added: “I feel ready, and I’ve been wanting to play men’s football for quite some time.

“I feel like Colchester is the best opportunity for me to develop and be one of the best.

“From my first steps onto the pitch to my last training session, every moment has been filled with passion, growth, and unforgettable memories.

“Spurs has been an incredible club and the place that shaped me into who I am today.”

The U's have brought in the promising 20-year-old on a long-term contract, following his departure from Spurs, this summer.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley told cu-fc.com: "We are delighted that Jaden agreed to join the club on a long-term contract.

"He is a young player that likes to play as a centre forward. He has real pace and loves to run off the back of defenders.

"He also presses with aggression and is really team orientated. Jaden enjoyed many successes in academy football.

"We now look forward to supporting his first steps into senior football."

Williams joined the Spurs Academy at the age of six and developed a strong goalscoring record throughout the age groups, playing predominantly as a striker but featuring in plenty of attacking positions.

League Two side announce signing of former Colchester attacker

He signed his first professional deal in 2023 and was a regular for the North London club in Premier League 2 last season and also featured in every game for their under-21s in their Vertu Trophy campaign.

Williams has had a good goalscoring record throughout the age groups, at Spurs.

He came through the ranks alongside a talented crop of Spurs Academy players, including Mikey Moore, Jamie Donley and Will Lankshear.

Colchester moved quickly to snap up the young forward when his contract at Spurs ended this summer and he will now link up with the first team squad, ahead of the new campaign.

Colchester are hoping to add further players to their squad in the coming weeks, as they prepare for the 2025/26 season.

The U's are aiming to build on their tenth-place finish in League Two, last season.