Gassan Ahadme returns to Cambridge as Shane Lavery re-signs 2026

Key Points

• Cambridge United have re-signed forward Gassan Ahadme on a season-long loan deal from Charlton Athletic.
• Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery has returned to the club on a 12-month contract, after becoming a free agent at the end of the previous season.
• Ahadme, 25, spent last season on loan with Stevenage, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions before a hip injury curtailed his campaign in December.
• While an Ipswich Town player, Ahadme was on loan at Cambridge in the 2023/24 season, where he scored 11 goals in 29 League One games.
• “I am really happy to be back. I have good memories of the season I had here, but I am trying to hit new levels and I am expecting a lot of myself,” Ahadme told the club website.
• Lavery, 27, spent the past two seasons at Cambridge, helping the club secure promotion from League Two last season.
• The 27-year-old featured in 30 games last season, scoring seven goals as the U’s secured promotion on the final day of the season with a 0–0 draw at Crewe.
• “It was always a possibility. There was just a bit of waiting time, but I am buzzing to still be here and can’t wait to get going,” Lavery said.
• Lavery added: “The gaffer and the staff found a good way of managing my minutes and I am looking forward to staying fit, scoring goals and helping the team.”

Cambridge United (Cambridge Tribune) July 01, 2026 – Cambridge United have reinforced their attacking options by re-signing forward Gassan Ahadme on a season-long loan from Charlton Athletic and securing striker Shayne Lavery on a new one-year contract ahead of the 2026/27 League One campaign.

As reported by BBC Sport in their article “Cambridge United: Gassan Ahadme and Shane Lavery sign one-year deals”, Cambridge United have secured two key attacking reinforcements ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The club announced that forward Gassan Ahadme has returned on a season-long loan from Charlton Athletic, while striker Shayne Lavery has rejoined on a 12-month contract.

The BBC report makes clear that both deals were completed on 1 July 2026, and that the club views them as important additions to their forward line. The logic behind both signings points to a clear intent: to add goals, experience and continuity to the squad as Cambridge aim to build on their promotion from League Two.

Ahadme, 25, spent last season on loan with Cambridge’s League One rivals Stevenage, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions before a hip injury curtailed his campaign in December. While an Ipswich Town player, he was on loan at Cambridge in the 2023/24 season, where he scored 11 goals in 29 League One games. Those numbers are central to the argument that Ahadme can be a proven goal scorer at this level, albeit with the caveat that he has faced injury setbacks in recent seasons.

How does Ahadme’s previous spell at Cambridge shape his return?

Ahadme’s first Cambridge stint, as an Ipswich Town player on loan, was defined by 11 goals in 29 League One appearances in 2023/24. That season established him as a promising young forward who could contribute regularly in a competitive third tier.

Ahadme himself has commented on his feelings about returning to the club. “I am really happy to be back. I have good memories of the season I had here, but I am trying to hit new levels and I am expecting a lot of myself,” he told the club website. Those words suggest that he sees the loan as a chance to rebound from his injury-affected season at Stevenage and to prove he can still be a decisive attacking figure.

His return to Cambridge also offers a fresh start under manager Mark Bonner, who will be looking to build a more consistent goalscoring threat after a season where injuries and limited attacking depth affected the U’s ability to convert chances. The club appears willing to bet on Ahadme’s underlying ability and previous form, despite the recent dip in availability.

What role is Shayne Lavery expected to play at Cambridge United?

Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery has signed a new one-year deal at The Abbey Stadium, having spent the past two seasons at the club, helping them to promotion from League Two last season. The 27-year-old featured in 30 games last season, scoring seven goals as the U’s secured promotion on the final day of the season with a 0–0 draw at Crewe.

Lavery had become a free agent at the end of the season but is pleased to commit himself to the club for at least a further year. His return signals that the manager sees him as a useful attacking option who knows the club, the dressing room and the division. This is a player who can step in and integrate quickly, reducing the usual adjustment period for new signings.

Lavery’s own comments underline that sentiment.

“It was always a possibility. There was just a bit of waiting time, but I am buzzing to still be here and can’t wait to get going,”

he said. He added:

“The gaffer and the staff found a good way of managing my minutes and I am looking forward to staying fit, scoring goals and helping the team.”

Those statements indicate that Lavery is keen to build on his previous contribution and to play a consistent role in the U’s promotion push.

How might these signings improve Cambridge United’s chances in League One?

Mark Bonner’s Cambridge United have been navigating a League One season where injuries and limited attacking depth have affected their ability to consistently score goals. The arrival of Ahadme, a forward with a proven goalscoring record at this level, and Lavery, a striker who already knows the club, addresses that concern directly.

The BBC notes that Ahadme’s last loan spell at Cambridge produced 11 goals in 29 League One games, which is a strong return for a young forward in a physically demanding division. Even if his recent season at Stevenage was hampered by injury, the club appears willing to bet on his underlying ability and previous form.

Lavery’s seven goals in 30 appearances last season, combined with his experience in the lower leagues and his role in a promotion-winning campaign, suggest he can be a reliable source of goals and leadership in the squad. Together, the two signings give Bonner additional options in attack and the possibility of a more balanced forward line.

Background of the Ahadme and Lavery signings

Gassan Ahadme Yahyai, born 17 November 2000, is a professional footballer who plays as a second-striker and has represented clubs in England such as Portsmouth, Burton Alb, Ipswich Town, Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic and Stevenage. His early career included loan spells at Burton Alb and Cambridge United while he was an Ipswich player, before moving to Charlton on a permanent deal.

Ahadme’s 2023/24 season at Cambridge United was a standout period in his career, with 11 goals in 29 League One games, helping establish him as a promising forward in the third tier. He then joined Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract, and later spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Stevenage, where he scored four goals in 17 appearances before a hip injury in December.

Shayne Lavery’s two seasons at Cambridge included a pivotal role in the club’s promotion from League Two, with seven goals in 30 games last season and key appearances in the final-day draw at Crewe that secured the title. His re-signing on a 12-month contract after becoming a free agent reflects both the club’s desire to retain promotion experience and Lavery’s willingness to continue his contribution at The Abbey Stadium.

Prediction: How will this development affect Cambridge United fans and supporters?

The re-signing of Gassan Ahadme and the retention of Shayne Lavery are likely to be seen positively by Cambridge United supporters, who have witnessed inconsistency in front of goal in recent seasons and who played a major role in the club’s promotion from League Two. Fans will probably view Ahadme’s proven League One record as evidence that the club is investing in a forward who can translate past form into goals in the upcoming campaign.

For supporters who attended Ahadme’s 2023/24 loan spell, his return may generate particular optimism, as he already has a relationship with the club and the division. If he can avoid the hip injury that affected his Stevenage season and rediscover his earlier goalscoring rhythm, Cambridge United fans may expect a more potent attack and, potentially, a stronger league position in League One.

However, the prediction also carries caution: Ahadme’s recent injury history means that his impact will depend on his fitness and ability to adapt to Bonner’s system after time away from Cambridge. If he struggles to find form or if injuries recur, supporters may see only a modest improvement rather than a transformation.

Lavery’s retention, meanwhile, is expected to be welcomed by fans who appreciate players with existing club knowledge and promotion experience, as this can reduce the usual adjustment period and provide stability in attack. If he can add to Ahadme’s contributions and provide reliable goals or assist play, the overall effect could be a more balanced and competitive forward line, directly benefiting the team’s performance and, by extension, the hopes of supporters who want Cambridge United to push for a higher finish in League One.