TOM Eastman has signed a new two-year contract with Colchester United.

The 29-year-old defender, who was due to see his existing deal expire this summer, has committed his future to the U's until the summer of 2023.

Eastman is currently Colchester's longest-serving player and this season moved into the club's top ten appearance-makers list.

The Colchester-born defender has made more than 400 league and cup appearances for the club since joining them from Ipswich Town, nearly a decade ago.

The former Clacton County High School pupil joined the U's in May, 2011, after being signed by then manager John Ward.

He made his U's league debut in a League One defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in October, 2011.

Eastman is one of only 14 players to have made 300 or more league appearances for the U's and was a near-ever present for Colchester in League Two, this season.

The reliable defender made 49 league and cup appearances for the U's in the 2020-21 campaign, more than any other player.

Eastman won Colchester United's Player of the Year for the fourth time, last summer.

The long-serving U's stalwart also scooped the U's coveted Players' Player of the Year accolade, along with the CUSA's Player and Away Player prizes at the club's seasonal awards.

Eastman was one of four out-of-contract players to be offered new deals by Colchester, earlier this month.

Ryan Clampin, Sam Cornish and Billy Cracknell have also been offered new terms by the club, as the U's plan for the next campaign.