Colchester United are considering a move for free agent Ali Koiki, with the club among several EFL sides reportedly showing interest in the 25-year-old following his release from Northampton Town.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke reports that the U’s face competition from Cheltenham Town, where Koiki is currently on trial, and one unnamed League One club. Colchester, who recently signed Kane Vincent-Young, remain active in the market for a left-sided defender following Mandela Egbo’s departure.
Koiki is no stranger to the EFL and could add valuable experience and dynamism to Danny Cowley’s squad.
EFL Experience and Tactical Fit
Born in London, Koiki came through the Crystal Palace and Burnley youth setups before beginning his senior career with Swindon Town on loan in 2018/19. He then moved to Bristol Rovers before finding stability with Northampton Town, where he played over three seasons.
At Northampton, Koiki became a regular presence during their 2022/23 promotion campaign and earned praise for his overlapping runs, defensive work rate, and positional maturity.
His playing style — quick, direct, and attack-minded — makes him a natural fit in a 3-5-2 or 4-3-3, both of which have featured in Colchester’s setups over recent seasons.
A Free Agent With Proven Quality
After clocking close to 100 appearances for Northampton, Koiki was released at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. Now 25 and fully fit, he’s looking for a new challenge — and Colchester’s growing project under Cowley may present the right platform.
📊 Career EFL Stats (League One + League Two):
Clubs: Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers, Northampton Town
- Total EFL Appearances: 95
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 5
- Minutes played: 7,310
- Clean sheets contributed to (approx.): 26
Per 90 Metrics (Career Averages):
- Tackles: 1.9
- Interceptions: 1.4
- Crosses: 2.7
- Final third entries: 4.6
- Progressive carries: 4.3
Percentile Rank vs EFL Full-Backs:
- Progressive carries: 82nd percentile
- Crosses per 90: 78th percentile
- Final third entries: 81st percentile
- Tackles + interceptions: 75th percentile
These metrics reinforce Koiki’s profile as a full-back who thrives in transitional play and offers strong attacking value from deep. While not a prolific goal contributor, his ability to carry the ball and create width consistently puts pressure on opposition defences.
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