Oxford United’s Summer Transfers


Now that the transfer window has shut, let’s take a look at those who have arrived through the doors at the Kassam Stadium this summer. We’ll also feature the key players that departed the club.

Kevin Berkoe

 

18-year-old left-back Kevin Berkoe was the first summer signing made by Karl Robinson.

Signed from Wolves, the defender looked likely to feature for the Under 23 side but played regularly during pre-season largely due to a lack of depth at the squad.

Berkoe has made two appearances for the U’s this season, playing a part in both Carabao Cup wins over Peterborough United and Millwall.

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Sam Allardyce

When Sam Allardyce joined Oxford, people may have been confused.

In fact, it’s the former England managers 18-year-old grandson. Signed from Bury after coming through the ranks at Manchester United, the defender is yet to appear for the first team, but did feature during pre-season.

Alex Rodriguez Gorrin

Alex Rodriguez Gorrin became Robinson’s first senior signing of the summer when the then 25-year-old Spanish midfielder arrived at the Kassam.

Despite attracting interest from numerous clubs, the former Wellington Pheonix man left Motherwell following the expiry of his contract for a move to Oxford.

Gorrin has been an important signing this season. Despite picking up four yellow cards from just five league games, he has been an integral part of Robinson’s plans and formed a formidable partnership with Cameron Brannagan.

Yet to score in the league, Gorrin did score a beauty as the U’s lost 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at home to QPR.

Curtis Nelson

The news that was expected; Curtis Nelson left the club following the expiry of his contract.

The 26-year-old defender spent three years with the U’s after joining from Plymouth Argyle, but he joined Neil Warnock at Cardiff City in the Championship, where he has just made two appearances.

Yoav Sade

Like Allardyce, 19-year-old defender Yoav Sade was signed for the Under 23 squad, but unlike Allardyce, he didn’t feature for the U’s senior side during pre-season.

Tariqe Fosu

Oxford were linked with Tariqe Fosu in early June after the 23-year-old rejected a new deal with Charlton Athletic, but only signed him on July 1.

The winger excelled in his first season with the Addicks, managed then by Karl Robinson, but struggled to make much of an impact under Lee Bowyer as the club achieved promotion to the Championship.

But, back under Robinson’s management, the 23-year-old appears to have reignited the form that prompted the U’s to sign the winger.

Fosu impressed during pre-season, scoring in the win at Oxford City, and scored on his debut as the U’s drew 1-1 at Sunderland. The winger has played every league game so far, adding an assist too.

Tsun Dai

In what was an unusual transfer, in and out, Tsun Dai left the U’s to join Wolves without making a single appearance for the club.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the U’s from Bury, spent time on loan at FC Utrecht where he made 12 appearances, but he joins the Premier League side’s Under 23 squad.

Chris Cadden

The signing of Chris Cadden was a unique signing in many ways.

The U’s expressed interest in the Motherwell man midway through June and appeared to reach an agreement on a compensation package for the SPL side.

The makeshift right-back attracted interest from League One rivals Sunderland and MLS side Columbus Crew, and he eventually signed for the American side before being loaned out to the U’s due to a maximum of overseas players already on their roster.

The full-back has featured in all six league games this season, providing two assists, and has formed a threatening partnership with James Henry down the Oxford right.

Gavin Whyte

Losing Gavin Whyte to Cardiff City was a bitter blow for Oxford. The 23-year-old attracted interest from numerous Championship sides during the summer, prompting Robinson to stick a £4 million price tag on the Northern Ireland International.

The winger scored nine times in 47 appearances for the U’s, including a hat trick at Shrewsbury. And despite the Bluebirds only paying a reported fee of £2 million, it was good business for the U’s who signed him from Crusaders for just £100,000 twelve months earlier.

The winger has made five appearances in the Championship, but for the U’s, they had lost two key players during the window and hadn’t really made any impressive strides to replace them.

Ben Woodburn

No sooner had Gavin Whyte left had Ben Woodburn arrived on a season-long loan from Liverpool.

The 19-year-old forward is highly thought of at Anfield, and is the youngest ever goalscorer for the Champions League winners, breaking Michael Owen’s record.

The Wales international is just one of two players to feature in all of the U’s eight games this season, scoring once and making one assist.

He has slotted in perfectly to Robinson’s style and holds the number ten role perfectly. His early performances have been impressive, and U’s fans will hope this will continue.

Anthony Forde

Anthony Forde. Picture via https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/usnews/17807355.oxford-united-sign-ex-rotherham-united-winger-anthony-forde/

A day after the U’s signed Woodburn, they announced the signing of Anthony Forde following his release from Rotherham United.

The 25-year-old winger spent three seasons at The Millers, with over 100 appearances, 28 coming as they suffered relegation from the Championship.

He has made five appearances in League One, mainly as a substitute, scoring once and adding an assist, but started both Carabao Cup ties.

Elliott Moore

One area that needed strengthening following the departure of Curtis Nelson was in defence, and Robinson made it three signings in as many days when Elliott Moore arrived from Leicester City.

The U’s agreed on an undisclosed fee for the 22-year-old defender, who spent two seasons in the Belgian second division.

The defender has made four League One appearances and featured in both Carabao Cup wins, and was unlucky not to score a late equaliser in the U’s draw with Coventry City after the goal was awarded as an own goal.

Dan Agyei

Oxford fans were crying out for a striker, and although he hasn’t played yet, Dan Agyei ticks a lot of boxes.

The 22-year-old only made three appearances during a near four-year spell at Burnley, spending time on loan at Coventry and Walsall.

Matty Taylor

If one striker wasn’t enough, then to snap up Oxford-born Matty Taylor on a season-long loan from Bristol City was a sensational switch.

The 29-year-old forward was released from Oxford at a young age, signing for Forest Green before banging in an impressive 61 goals in 118 league appearances for Bristol Rovers as the Gas achieved back to back promotions from the Conference to League One.

But, rivals Bristol City activated his release clause and he joined the Championship side.

Taylor made his second U’s debut as Robinson’s side lost at home to Burton, before suffering a first-half injury the following weekend at Bristol Rovers.

Yet to score, once he’s back to full fitness, Taylor could be the high scoring forward the U’s have been after.

George Thorne

Overshadowed by the arrival of Taylor, George Thorne joined the U’s on the same day on a season-long loan from Derby County.

The 26-year-old midfielder has had an injury-hit career but impressed whilst on loan at Luton Town last season.

His only appearance so far this season came as a substitute in the second round of the Carabao Cup, and the midfielder successfully converted his spot-kick as the U’s dumped Millwall out on penalties.

Kash Siddiqi

The arrival of a 33-year-old full-back that has only managed twelve appearances in three years seemed an unusual one, but Kash Siddiqi has arrived with a bigger role than just a player.

The former Pakistan international is the co-founder of Football for Peace, a charity that helps disadvantaged people across the world, and it’s this link that excited the U’s board, who themselves want to push Oxford as a global reputation.

Oussama Zamouri

On deadline day, Robinson made his final transfer after Oussama Zamouri joined the U’s.

The Moroccan, who is a 23-year-old winger, has spent his career in the Dutch second division, but after becoming a free agent in the summer, he impressed the U’s boss during a trial last month.

Players that got away

The U’s were linked with numerous players during the summer, and although Karl Robinson eventually brought fourteen new faces through the door, there were some targets that were unsuccessful. Here are the ones that got away.

Jason Pearce

Jason Pearce was reportedly a summer target for Karl Robinson. The 31-year-old centre back won promotion to the Championship with Charlton Athletic, and although he made just under 30 appearances, he wasn’t always the first choice. The U’s, Sunderland and Portsmouth all like the defender, but he stayed with the Addicks and has made five second-tier appearances this season.

Jorge Grant

Banbury born Jorge Grant was an out of favour Nottingham Forest winger that attracted interest from Oxford and Lincoln. The 24-year-old opted for a move to the Imps where he has been an integral part of the side, scoring once and adding four assists, aiding the clubs promising start to the season.

Jerome Sinclair

Jerome Sinclair spent time on loan at Oxford last season, scoring four goals in sixteen appearances, and even the U’s offered the 22-year-old striker a permanent deal, the Watford man joined Dutch side VVV-Venlo instead.

Stuart Findlay

23-year-old defender Stuart Findlay would have been a great addition to the squad, and it was reported both clubs edged quite close to a deal. The defender, who scored in the first leg, but was sent off in the second leg, of Kilmarnock’s Europa League qualifiers, was an integral part of the Killy squad that finished 3rd in the SPL. He spoke out about the move, but the U’s later ended their pursuit for the defender after they were priced out of a move.

Ched Evans

Following Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premier League, Ched Evans was certainly expected to leave the club. The 30-year-old, who scored 18 times whilst on loan at Fleetwood, divided opinion, and despite re-signing for the Cod Army on a permanent basis, the Welshman could have been a real coup.

Jon Guthrie and Elliott Frear

27-year-old defender Jon Guthrie and 28-year-old winger Elliott Frear both appeared for the U’s as trialists during pre-season. Guthrie was released after two seasons with Walsall but suffered relegation from League One. After failing to land a contract at Oxford, he joined SPL side Livingston, where he has started each game, scoring once. As for Frear, he is still without a club but did score for the U’s in their friendly at Woking.

Luke Garbutt

Like Sinclair, Karl Robinson was eager to re-sign Luke Garbutt who spent the season on loan from Everton. The full-back didn’t excite fans early on, but he impressed during the second half of the season when playing as a left-sided midfielder. But, the 26-year-old rejected the U’s to join Ipswich Town, where he has scored twice from two appearances.

Marcus Browne

Like Garbutt and Sinclair, Marcus Browne was another former loanee that Karl Robinson wanted back at the club. After the West Ham winger was spotted at the Kassam for the U’s pre-season friendly with Fulham, supporters believed the 21-year-old would be a yellow again this season. But the winger opted for a move to Championship side Middlesbrough, making six appearances in all competitions.

Gboly Ariyibi

Oxford and Rotherham both expressed interest in Nottingham Forest winger, Gboly Ariyibi. The 24-year-old struggled with the Championship side but impressed at Chesterfield before his move to the City Ground. But, just two days ago, Forest sold the winger to Greek Super League side Panaitolikos.

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