Crawley Town midfielder Jay Williams has left the club to join League Two rivals Colchester United. The 25-year-old's move was part of a double deadline-day swoop by the U's, who also signed 23-year-old striker Kylian Kouassi from Blackpool, as reported by the BBC.
Williams, who had been with Crawley, signed for Colchester on an undisclosed-length contract for an undisclosed fee. Kouassi, who had been with Blackpool since 2023, signed a two-year deal. The pair joined as Colchester United's ninth and tenth signings of the summer transfer window. The moves come with Crawley Town currently 17th in League Two, having taken four points from their opening four games with a record of one win, one draw, and two losses.
Who is Jay Williams?
Jay Williams is a 25-year-old midfielder who was a part of the Crawley Town squad. His departure to Colchester United was confirmed on the final day of the transfer window. The specific details of his contract with his new club were not made public. Williams' exit is a notable change for the Crawley midfield group, which fans can review on the club's squad page.
What does Kouassi bring to the league?
Kylian Kouassi arrives from Blackpool, where he spent the last two seasons on loan at Salford City and Cambridge United. He made 14 League Two appearances for Cambridge during the 2025-26 campaign. The striker also scored in Blackpool's 3-1 away victory over Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup. His experience in the fourth tier will be valuable for a Colchester side looking to climb the standings.
How are Colchester United performing?
The Cowley brothers, managers of Colchester United, have been busy reshaping their squad. Before these signings, they had started the season with successive home wins but had picked up just one point on the road. They lost 2-0 at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, April 12, 2024, the date the original BBC report was published. Fast forward to the current 2026-27 season, and Colchester's new signings join a team that has scored three goals and conceded five, leaving them with a -2 goal difference. They currently sit five points behind league leaders Bristol Rovers.
What is the context for Crawley Town?
For Crawley Town, the sale of Jay Williams represents a shift in their playing personnel. The club's immediate focus will be on their upcoming matches, which are listed on the fixtures page. The team's current form reads DLWL from their first four games. Managing the squad after this departure will be important as they look to improve their position in the table and close the gap to the teams above them. Williams' former team now prepares for its next league contest without him in the midfield.
