COLCHESTER United have made their third signing of the January transfer window after sealing the loan capture of defender Riley Harbottle.

The 23-year-old defender has signed from Scottish Premiership side Hibernian until the end of the season.

Harbottle has been at Hibs since joining them from Premier League club Nottingham Forest on a three-year deal, last summer.

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The Scottish side paid an undisclosed fee for the defender's services and he has made two appearances for the Easter Road club, this season.

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Harbottle came through the youth ranks at Nottingham Forest andย signed his first professional contract for themย in 2017, at the age ofย 17.

He skipperedย the Forest under-18 and under-23 youth teams and was aย regularย in the FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2 during his time within their academy.

Harbottle made his first-team debut for the Reds against Bradford City in the Carabao Cup, in 2021.

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In the summer of 2022, he signed for Mansfield Town on a season-long loan.

Harbottle made a total of 37 appearances for the Stags last season, as they pushed for the League Two play-offs.

He madeย 31 starts in total for the Stags, predominantly as aย left-sided centre-back.

The defender, who spent time on loan at National League side Wealdstone in the 2020-21 season, scored six league goals for Mansfield and netted in their 2-0 win at U's on the final day of the season.

Harbottle is Colchester's third signing of the January window, following hot on the heels of their capture of Conor Wilkinson from Motherwell and the loan signing of Jayden Richardson, from Aberdeen.