Łopata terminates Southend contract | OneFootball

Polish centre-back Kacper Łopata has terminated his contract with English National League club Southend United with immediate effect.

Reports in local media have claimed that the club were more than 28 days late in paying the 21-year-old’s wages for January, and as such the club were in breach of contract. Łopata missed The Shrimpers’ 1-0 defeat to Barnet on Friday evening – hours before the defender released a statement on social media.

Polish-born Łopata moved to England as a 9-year-old, and came up through the ranks at Southampton, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his senior professional debut during a loan spell at Zagłębie Sosnowiec, before returning to England to join Sheffield United.

Łopata joined Southend after impressing during a loan spell during the 2021-22 season, and went on to make 26 appearances during this campaign.

Southend have been in major financial trouble, and have only recently managed to avoid a winding-up order after paying a £1.4 million (7.466m PLN) tax bill.