Colchester United have signed striker Mikael Mandron on a two year contract.

The 22-year-old Frenchman joins the U’s for an undisclosed fee from League One side Wigan Athletic, who he joined in January 2017 having started his career at Premiership side Sunderland.

Mikael, a 6ft. 3in. frontman, moved to England from France to join the Black Cats in 2011 as a 16-year-old.

Two years later, he made his Sunderland debut against Aston Villa and, over the coming seasons, enjoyed a number of loan spells away from the Stadium of Light.

Short stints with Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and Hartlepool were followed by a permanent switch to Eastleigh and he went on to score 10 in 28 for the Spitfires, including five in six FA Cup appearances.

His performances for Eastleigh were enough to see Wigan swoop in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee.

And, ahead of the new season, he has now joined the U’s, subject to EFL and FA approval, in the quest for regular first team football.