Cambridge United Sign Experienced Forward

Cambridge United have completed the signing of forward Macaulay Bonne from Gillingham on loan for the remainder of the season, as confirmed via a statement on the club’s website.

The 28-year-old becomes the latest player to join Neil Harris’ side, following a busy January window which has also included the arrival of fellow striker Lyle Taylor.

Who is Macaulay Bonne?

The forward burst onto the first-team scene with Colchester United before moving to Leyton Orient in 2017. Within two years, Bonne had joined Charlton Athletic for £200,000 before moving to Queen’s Park Rangers for £2,000,000 in October 2020.

Bonne has also had spells with Ipswich Town on loan before returning to Charlton to see out the 2022/23 season. During the summer, Bonne signed for Gillingham on a free transfer.

So far this season, the 28-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions for the Gills, scoring five goals and providing two additional assists.

A forward reunion

New signing Macaulay Bonne will be reuniting with former Charlton Athletic teammate Lyle Taylor for the first time since the 2019/20 Championship season.

Taylor and Bonne finished the campaign as joint top-scorers at the club with 11 league goals each, closely followed by Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

The deal

Bonne has joined Neil Harris’ side on a loan deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, in a bid to push Cambridge United away from any potential relegation trouble at the end of the season.

The club are currently 16th in League One, five points above the relegation zone and have two games in hand on the majority of sides around them in the table.

What’s been said?

Upon signing for the League One side, Macaulay Bonne told the club’s website…

“He is a manager I have wanted to work with over the years,

“Now the chance is here for me to work under him again it’s an opportunity I want to pursue. He knows me, he knows my style of play and knows how to get the best out of me. It’s an exciting opportunity for me.”

Writer’s View

Macaulay Bonne is an experienced striker who has a proven track record in the EFL and another alongside Lyle Taylor.

Given how successful the pair were in the Championship together, the expectation is that the pair can bring the best out of each other moving into the remainder of the season.