Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Judge has signed a two-year contract at Colchester United following his release from Ipswich. 

The 32-year-old departed the Tractor Boys at the end of the season after they opted against triggering a clause to offer him a new deal.

“With the last year that I’ve had, this is not the way I wanted to end my time at Ipswich Town but this is football," Judge said of that decision back in April.

“In all honesty, nothing surprises me anymore in this industry. I was made aware of my contract situation on Thursday morning that if I played one more game from the start my contract would be extended.

“We both came to the agreement that there was no point in risking our position from both sides’ perspective.

📰 Read the full story as Alan Judge joins Colchester United on a two-year deal! 👇@10judgey | #ColU

— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) June 18, 2021

The Dubliner is joined by his former Ipswich teammate Freddie Sears in making the move to the League Two side and Judge says it was an easy decision.

“Everything attracted me to the club,” he said. “There is a good training ground and good young lads coming through, and there is now a good core group of experience.

“I was lucky enough to have a few offers from League One, but everything ticked the box here with what we are trying to do.”