Youngster insists he will forever be grateful to Brisbane Road club for giving him a chance to be a professional footballer
Sandro Semedo paid tribute to Leyton Orient supporters after confirming his departure from the club on Tuesday night.
The winger, who trained with Portugal’s under-21 team in April, has rejected a new offer from O’s and will end his four-year stay at Brisbane Road.
Semedo progressed through the E10 academy having initially caught the eye while playing for the Leyton Orient Trust team.
After signing his first professional deal in July 2015, the 20-year-old exits having made 50 appearances for the east Londoners since his debut at Luton Town in September 2015.
The talented Portuguese youngster confirmed his decision to leave on Twitter, he said: “I want to thank everyone at the club, especially the fans, for this amazing time I have spent with you all.
“I will forever love Leyton Orient as they brought me up from college all the way into the first-team and I am really thankful.
“My future is yet to be decided, but I am sure I will never forget my first professional team and I want to say a really, really big thank you to all the fans. I am an O forever.”
The news occurred after the current Orient manager Omer Riza revealed the players still contracted to the National League club for next season.
It is understood Charlie Grainger and Victor Adeboyejo have extended their stays at O’s after being offered new professional deals at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Sam Alderson, Dan Happe, Rian McLean and Charley Barker are also believed to have agreed third-year scholar terms.
Riza didn’t include French duo Teddy Mezague or Yvan Erichot in his squad list for the 2017/18 campaign, so it is understood both have left after one season.
As things stand, Orient have just 15 ‘senior’ players with the most experienced 18-year-old Josh Koroma, who has played 24 times for O’s with Myles Judd the next most experience having made 22 appearances for the club.
It is a sorry situation for the club, who begin pre-season training at the start of July ahead of their first ever campaign in the National League.
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