Kayode Odejayi, who has turned his back on Colchester United to join Rotherham

KAYODE Odejayi, Colchester United’s official player-of-the-season, has left the Essex club to join Rotherham.

Target man Odejayi’s current contract with the U’s expired this summer, and the ex-Bristol City and Cheltenham striker has opted to turn down the offer of a new deal at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, and instead join ambitious League Two club Rotherham.

Even though he only scored five goals last season, and just four in League One, Odejayi still scooped the player-of-the-season accolade for a series of consistent performances. He often led the front-line on his own.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans said: “I am delighted with this signing and I have to say we have beaten a number of good clubs to get him here.

“But with the fantastic New York Stadium and the big support we have here, I always believed we stood a chance, and I never gave up.”

U’s boss John Ward said: “It is obviously disappointing to lose Kayode, but he has family in that part of the country and decided it was time to leave us.

“We made him an offer to stay and we wanted him to stay, but he received an offer from Rotherham that he was happy with, and moves on with our thanks and good wishes.”

Odejayi played 115 league games for the U’s, and 128 in all competitions, following his arrival from Barnsley, initially on loan, and then permanently for an undisclosed fee in December, 2009.