Dean Hammond has left the U's to join Southampton on a three-year deal, for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £400,000.
The 26-year-old midfielder leaves the U's under similar circumstances to how he arrived - United signed Hammond from Brighton & Hove Albion for £250,000, after the South coast club decided to cash in on him because he threatened to leave them on a free transfer at the end of his contract under the Bosman ruling. With Hammond's U's contract being up at the end of the season, he's played the same game to secure his move away from United Way.
Hammond arrived at Colchester during the January transfer window last year. During his 18-months with the U's he made 63 appearances (57 starts), scoring five goals, and last season he was the club's Player of the Year. He also wore the captain's armband for the majority of his appearances, but only became the club's official captain once Chris Coyne left the U's in July.