Arsenal youth midfielder Mauro Bandeira has joined Colchester United on a season-long loan deal, the two clubs have confirmed.

Colchester United announced on Tuesday morning that they’ve signed Arsenal’s Mauro Bandeira on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

The player is set to join up with his new teammates on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their pre-season fixture against Stevenage on Tuesday night.

Bandeira was a regular for the Arsenal u21s last season, playing 20 times in the Premier League 2 and making a further three appearances in the EFL Trophy.

The 19-year-old midfielder also featured for the u21s in the Premier League Cup, most notably scoring an extra-time winner in the Round of 16.

Bandeira appeared to earn his way into Mikel Arteta’s thoughts towards the end of last season, featuring in the Europa League squad against Sporting CP and the final two Premier League squads to face Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

But with a lot of competition in midfield at Arsenal and the addition of Declan Rice to the squad this summer, Bandeira is much more likely to get consistent minutes out on loan.

Bandeira isn’t the first Arsenal youth player to spend time on loan with Colchester United, with Tom Smith playing for the League Two side in the second half of last season.

Smith played a significant role in helping Colchester to avoid relegation, so it’s no surprise they’ve shown an interest in another Arsenal academy product this season.