Colchester United have made some productive loan signings

The U’s have had their fair share of loanees who have flourished, over recent times.

The Gazette's U's sports writer Jon Waldron takes a look at the big impact some of Colchester United's best loanees have made, over the last 15 years.

JACOB MURPHY (NORWICH CITY) – MARCH 2015-MAY 2015

FLYING winger Jacob Murphy has enjoyed a productive career since playing on loan at Colchester United from Norwich City, in the 2014-15 season.

These days, the speedy attacker is playing regularly in the Premier League for Newcastle United and also had his first taste of Champions League action, earlier this season.

The 28-year-old joined Newcastle from Norwich for £12m in 2017, having had plenty of loan spells prior to that point.

One of those was at Colchester, where he made 11 appearances and scored four times, helping them retain their League One status, under Tony Humes.

BONGANI KHUMALO (SPURS) - MARCH 2015-MAY 2015

COLCHESTER United were in deep relegation trouble when Bongani Khumalo arrived on loan at Colchester United from Spurs.

The South African centre-back was a rock at the heart of the U's defence, helping the U's avoid the drop in dramatic fashion on the final day of the League One season.

Khumalo played ten games for Colchester in 2015, before returning to South Africa that summer.

MICHAIL ANTONIO (READING) - AUGUST 2011-NOVEMBER 2011

MICHAIL Antonio was only at Colchester for three months - but made a big impression during that time.

The winger made 16 league and cup appearances for the U's as a fresh-faced 21-year-old and lit up League One with his attacking flair and skill.

Antonio has gone on to have a fantastic career and is now showing off his skills for West Ham United in the Premier League, having joined them from Nottingham Forest for £7m in September, 2015.

FREDDIE SEARS (WEST HAM UNITED) - JANUARY 2012-MAY 2012

FREDDIE Sears made a favourable impression for Colchester after joining them on loan from West Ham United in January, 2012.

Having already scored on his Premier League debut for the Hammers, the striker made 11 appearances and scored twice for John Ward's side, after joining the U's.

The move was made permanent by Colchester in the summer of 2012 and he made nearly 100 appearances for the U's after that, scoring 34 times.

Sears left Colchester in January 2015 to join Ipswich Town, where he went on to play nearly 200 league and cup matches.

He returned to Colchester for a two-year spell in 2021, making 87 appearances and scoring 21 times.

Sears is now plying his trade in the National League with Dagenham and Redbridge.

CALLUM HARRIOTT (CHARLTON ATHLETIC) - AUGUST 2015-JANUARY 2016

CALLUM Harriott enjoyed an excellent loan spell for the U’s back in the 2015-16 season that really won the hearts of the club's fans.

The winger shone in what was otherwise a disappointing season for Tony Humes' side, in League One.

Harriott made 23 league and cup appearances for the U's during his loan spell, scoring seven times.

He returned to Charlton before joining Reading in the summer of 2016, where he stayed for three years.

Harriott joined Colchester on a permanent basis in 2019 and was at the club until 2022.

The 29-year-old’s best scoring season saw him net nine times in 36 league appearances in League Two with Colchester, in the 2020-21 campaign.

Harriott has since played for Yeovil Town and is currently plying his trade at York City, in the National League.

BRADLEY GARMSTON (WEST BROMWICH ALBION) - JANUARY 2013-JULY 2013

LIKE some of the other loanees featuring in this article, Bradley Garmston made his professional debut for the U's after joining them on loan.

With his pace from full-back, he shone under Joe Dunne and played his part in helping the U's stay in League One.

Having not made a senior appearance for West Brom, the defender moved on to Gillingham and has since played for Grimsby Town.

SAM WALKER (CHELSEA) - JANUARY-APRIL 2013; JULY 2013-MAY 2014

SAM Walker arrived at the JobServe Community Stadium from Chelsea in the 2013 January transfer window, having been signed by Joe Dunne.

The lofty shot-stopper had already had loan experience at the likes of Barnet and Northampton but made quite an impression with the U's.

Walker had two separate loan spells with Colchester before joining them permanently in May, 2014.

After making nearly 250 league and cup appearances for the U's, he left in the summer of 2018 to join Championship club Reading.

Walker had loan spells at Blackpool and AFC Wimbledon before joining Blackpool and is currently at Charlton Athletic.

THEO ROBINSON (SOUTHEND UNITED) - AUGUST 2019-JULY 2020

COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal was looking to bolster his attacking options when he brought in the experienced Theo Robinson from Southend United.

The striker was down the pecking order at Roots Hall when he arrived at the U's but hit the ground running and to date, has scored 12 goals in 20 league and cup appearances so far.

Robinson had previously played for the likes of Derby County, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City, prior to joining the U's from Southend in the 2019-20 campaign.

He joined Port Vale in the summer of 2020 and has since played for Bradford City, Hartlepool United and Brackley.

LUKE GARBUTT (EVERTON) - SEPTEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014

LUKE Garbutt had already enjoyed a productive loan spell at Cheltenham Town by the time he arrived at Colchester on loan from Premier League side Everton in the 2013-14 season.

He flourished for Joe Dunne's side, playing 20 times and scoring three goals including a superb strike in the U's 1-1 draw at Preston North End.

Now 30, left-sided player Garbutt has since had loan spells at Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Oxford United and Ipswich Town before joining Blackpool, in September 2020.

Garbutt is currently playing in League Two for Salford City and could face the U’s where they travel to face the Ammies at Moor Lane, next Friday.

DAVID MOONEY (READING) - AUGUST 2010-MAY 2011

DAVID Mooney had already had loan spells for the likes of Stockport County, Norwich City and Charlton Athletic, prior to arriving at Colchester in the summer of 2010.

The Irishman proved a skilful addition under John Ward and scored 14 times, during the course of the campaign.

In the summer of 2011, Mooney left Reading and joined Leyton Orient where he clocked up more than 150 appearances and scored more than 50 goals in his first spell.

He later played for Southend United, before returning to the O's in the latter part of his career.