Oxford United have completed the signing of former loanee Marcus Browne from Middlesbrough. The winger joins the U’s on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The former West Ham United man enjoyed two separate loan spells at Grenoble Road before joining Boro last summer. However, he was out of favour at the Riverside Stadium and hadn’t featured for the club since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in January 2021.
The winger came close to joining Charlton but the deal broke down, resulting in the U’s acting quickly to sign the wide man.
Browne played 60 times for Oxford during his two loan spells, scoring 14 times including in the League One play-off semi-final first leg against Portsmouth.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Browne said: “They did come into my thinking because they were brilliant with me when I was here before.
“I was made to feel so welcome and I enjoyed playing football here so with the team doing so well and the whole club moving forward it was an easy choice to make.
“This time it’s permanent instead of a loan but that doesn’t change anything really: I am still going to go out there and give it everything and do my best to help the team in any way I can.”
Karl Robinson added: “We all know what he can do and what a dangerous player he can be.
“I think two of his best games for us were first when he played centre-forward and in another game when he ran the game from the centre of midfield. So he opens up so many options for us and he is so hungry to succeed and do well for this club.
“He will hopefully have a big part to play this season but he has signed a long-term deal and that’s what we are signing: an excellent football with his best years in front of him.”
