It’s been a topsy-turvy transfer window for Oxford United this summer. Karl Robinson has brought in some exciting players but the squad has also been cut short with outgoings.
The club began by releasing Sam Winnall and Jamie Hanson, while Leon Chambers-Parillon and Michael Elechi were also told they wouldn’t be offered a new deal.
Joel Cooper was the next to depart but the U’s made Sam Baldock their first summer signing following an impressive spell last season, where he scores four times in seven appearances.
Out of contract in the summer, Mark Sykes was the next, and the first regular player, to leave. The Irishman made the step up to the Championship where he joined Rob Atkinson at Bristol City.
However, the internal deals continued with James Henry and Elliott Moore committing their futures to the club – the duo would also pen longer-term deals later in the window. This was quickly followed by the extension of Billy Bodin and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin.
Another vital squad player then left as Ryan Williams returned to Australia to join his hometown club, Perth Glory.
Another departure looked likely with Oxford rejected several bids from Burney for defender Luke McNally, but the Clarets eventually landed their man in a deal reportedly worth around £1.6 million.
McNally’s departure left a hole in defence but Robinson acted quickly and saw the return of Ciaron Brown following his release from Cardiff.
Oxford then added another defender in the form of long-term target Stuart Findlay, with the former Kilmarnock man penning a four-year deal.
Then, out of the blue, the U’s added a third goalkeeper with the arrival of Sligo Rovers captain, Ed McGinty.
Experienced winger Yanic Wildschut was the next to arrive, although the 30-year-old picked up an injury in pre-season and is yet to feature for the U’s.
Oxford added another winger when Josh Murphy arrived following his release from the Bluebirds. However, like Wildschut, the 27-year-old has struggled with injuries so far this season, making just two appearances.
Anthony Forde, another versatile squad player, was the next to depart as he joined National League outfit Wrexham.
Then came the news that no Oxford fan wanted to hear as Blackpool met the release clause for key midfielder, Cameron Brannagan. Despite heading up to the northwest for talks, the 26-year-old returned to Grenoble Road and penned a new long-term deal with the U’s.
Having trained with the club throughout pre-season, Jodi Jones was the next player to sign for the club. However, the winger has managed just 50 minutes of football and already appears out of favour.
Academy duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Slavi Spasov then penned new deals while Ben Davis returned to Thailand on loan ahead of the arrival of Lewis Bate from Leeds.
Striker Kyle Joseph was the next to arrive, joining on a season-long loan from Swansea, before Jack Stevens left to join Port Vale for the season, having penned a new deal at the club.
Deadline Day didn’t bring all the excitement or drama that Oxford fans wanted, or needed for that matter. Robinson made just one addition in the shape of Lazio right-back, Djavan Anderson on a one-year deal.
However, the U’s were also linked with QPR striker, Macauley Bonne, but he stayed put in the Championship after a move to Charlton collapsed.
