Oxford United have boosted their attacking options with the addition of Suriname international Yanic Wildschut on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 30-year-old becomes Karl Robinson’s third signing of the week after deals for Stuart Findlay and Ed McGinty were completed.
Wildschut arrives following a spell with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria but played for Sky Bet Championship clubs between 2014 and 2019.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, he said: “I left three years ago and I’d played five years in England, so it was a big part of my career and my life.
“I’ve been around a little bit so it feels like coming home.
“The style of play in England suits me and is a big part of why I wanted to come back.
“I’m now 30 and I want to play at the highest level I can.
“I’ve been away from England three years and now I’m back, I’m ready to show everyone again that I’m the Yanic from before.”
He added: “When I spoke to the coach and the owner on their plans for the season it was an easy decision to join.
“I’ve looked at the last few years and they’ve been close, just not got over the line.
“This is why I came here, to hopefully get the club where they want to go, in the Championship.”
Born in Amsterdam and having come through Ajax’s youth Academy, Wildschut played for several Eredivisie sides and was called up to the Netherlands U21 squad before joining Middlesbrough in 2014.
The winger also turned out for Wigan before moving to Norwich for a fee reportedly worth around £7 million.
However, he managed just 29 games in two and half years for the Canaries and spent time on loan at Cardiff and Bolton before leaving England in the summer of 2019.
He added: “I prefer to play on the left and I think I’m quite fast and strong. I like to have 1-v-1s and to create chances, score some goals and get some assists.
“This is what I hope to contribute on the pitch, and off the pitch, guide some of the younger players who are just coming through or people who are struggling.
“I’ve had the experience of playing at these levels.
“Where I can be important to the team, I will do my best to do that.”
