Winger Departs By Mutual Consent
Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Second Round - Oxford United v Watford - Kassam Stadium, Oxford, Britain - September 15, 2020 Oxford United's Joel Cooper in action with Watford's Domingos Quina Action Images/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Oxford United winger Joel Cooper will leave the club by mutual consent in the summer, the club have confirmed.
The 26-year-old joined the U’s from Linfield in 2020 but spent the second half of the season back on loan with his former club.
This season, game time was once again difficult to come by, he joined Port Vale on loan in League Two but managed just six appearances.
Speaking to the club’s official website, U’s boss Karl Robinson said: “Joel has great ability but hasn’t been able to settle here.
“We talked it through and there are things back home he needs to deal with so we agreed he can leave and he does so with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.”
Cooper added: “I want to thank the Gaffer and the staff at Oxford and the fans for their support and hopefully understanding.
“I was very proud to play for the club and it’s a shame it wasn’t more times, but I hopefully leave on good terms and wish the club all the best for next season.”
The winger managed just 11 appearances for the club during his two-year stay. Six of those came in League One but he only managed a total of 90 minutes of league football from those outings.
His only goals came in the Football League Trophy against Tottenham Hotspur U23s when he netted twice in a 3-2 win.