Cambridge sign midfielder Reason

Reason scored twice in 15 Blue Square Premier loan starts for Cambridge

Cambridge United have signed midfielder Jai Reason on a pre-contract agreement after he was released by Ipswich.

The 19-year-old joined the U's on loan last season and helped the side to a Wembley play-off final in the Blue Square Premier.

His contract at parent club Ipswich expires on 1 July.

Reason had also attracted offers from League One and League Two clubs but has committed his future at Cambridge until May 2010.

Reason told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "It was tough because there were other clubs that wanted me.

"The teams didn't give any spark or enthusiasm that they wanted to go places, but at Cambridge everyone's really excited about the new season.

"There were League Two and League One clubs [after me], so that was a massive persuasion, but I feel like I owe it to Cambridge United fans to get the club up to where it belongs."

Reason joined the U's on loan in February and scored two goals in 15 league starts.

"I fell in love with the club when I came here," he said. "There's such a family environment and these fans deserve more than they've got: we should be a league club."