CHELSEA OLD BOY BECOMES ALEX’S LATEST NEW SIGNING
CREWE Alex have signed former Chelsea youth-team captain Charlie Colkett on a two-year deal.
The 25-year-old midfielder spent the second half of last season with League One outfit Cheltenham Town, making nine appearances. He came through the academy at Chelsea and twice won the FA Youth Cup with them, captaining the team on the second occasion.
He’s also represented England from under-16s to under-20s level.
He had loans at Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Shrewsbury Town then moved to Swedish top-flight side Ostersunds before joining Cheltenham in League One.
Crewe assistant manager Lee Bell said: “He is a really good ball-playing footballer. The people we have spoken to can’t speak highly enough of him as a player but also as a person.
“He’s a good player. He’s got hunger.
“He knows he should probably have done a little bit more than he has up to now, but he has some real hunger to make his mark when he comes to the club.” Bell says the midfielder has impressed with his attitude and had been in talks with the club over Zoom while on holiday rather than wait until he returned.
The assistant manager added: “He needs to be playing football. I think we can offer him that more than another club was offering him.
“So, he is excited to be here, we are excited to have him here.
“He is going to move up with his partner so we have to help him as quickly as we can to get settled in the area, find him somewhere to live.
“That is an important part when you bring a player in. You don’t just leave them at the doorstep, you have to try to help them settle down as quickly as possible.” Colkett becomes the club’s fourth new signing of the summer following defender Kelvin Mellor, midfielder Conor Thomas and striker Courtney Baker-richardson, as new manager Alex Morris looks to revamp the squad following relegation from League One. Meanwhile, Crewe have released ticket prices for their home pre-season games, against West Brom on July 16 (3pm), and Rotherham on July 23 (3pm). Prices are £12 adults, £8 seniors and £2 under-16s.