Oxford United's first summer transfer window signings from 2012 to 2021

The U’s are yet to bring in any new faces this summer, although it is still 47 days until the start of the Sky Bet League One season.

United have made a signing by this date in six of the last ten summer windows, though, with some early arrivals more successful than others.

These are the first senior recruits in each of the last ten years, the date they joined and how they fared at Grenoble Road.

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2021: Marcus McGuane – May 6

The midfielder’s permanent arrival from Nottingham Forest was confirmed three days before the final game of the 2020/21 League One season.

McGuane joined after making 21 appearances on loan in the first half of the campaign, only to suffer a thigh injury in January that ruled him out for seven months.

The 23-year-old began to hit form before his season ended early and he struggled to reach the same heights last term.

McGuane missed two months through injury early in the campaign and 18 of his 35 appearances were off the bench, while a strike against Bristol Rovers in November was his only goal.

2020: Joel Cooper – July 23

Joel Cooper Picture: Ric Mellis

Two years ago, United did not make their first signing until late July after Covid scrambled the summer.

Cooper joined from Linfield ten days after the U’s lost the League One play-off final to Wycombe Wanderers, with Karl Robinson forced to act fast due to the tight turnaround between seasons.

The Northern Irish winger signed a three-year deal, but last month he agreed with United to terminate his contract early after a rocky couple of campaigns.

Cooper returned home for personal reasons both seasons and made only 12 appearances, scoring twice, alongside loans to Linfield – who he has since re-joined - and Sky Bet League Two club Port Vale.

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2019: Alex Gorrin – June 20

It is approaching three years since the holding midfielder joined and a chant about Spanish cuisine duly followed.

He could have been that summer’s second signing but Tariqe Fosu’s move from Charlton Athletic dragged on before eventually being completed on July 1.

Gorrin was an ever present in his first season and featured regularly in 2020/21, but he has not featured since early November due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The popular 28-year-old has played 101 times for United and signed a new deal earlier this month that takes him into his fourth campaign with the club.

2018: Cameron Norman – May 18

Cameron Norman Picture: David Fleming

It was more early business from the U’s four years ago as they signed the attacking right back from Kings Lynn Town.

Norman arrived 13 days after the end of the previous League One season as Robinson began his first transfer window in charge of United.

The former Norwich City trainee started eight times in the first two months of the campaign but made just four further appearances as he fell out of favour.

Norman joined League One counterparts Walsall on a permanent deal the following January.

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2017: Scott Shearer – May 16

The goalkeeper was United’s first summer signing of 2017 following his release by Mansfield Town.

Shearer came in to provide back-up for Simon Eastwood, who played every minute of the club’s 62-match 2016/17 campaign.

The goalkeeper was very much an understudy as he saw out his career with the U’s, retiring in 2019 after making three appearances in two seasons.

Shearer’s one League One game was a 2-0 defeat to Fleetwood Town in August 2018.

2016: Simon Eastwood – June 23

Simon Eastwood on the day he joined Oxford United Picture: Richard Cave

Michael Appleton clearly liked starting his summer business by signing goalkeepers.

Eastwood only agreed a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months after he was released by Blackburn Rovers, but United tied him down to a two-year extension the following February.

It came during his 62-game campaign, when he won the supporters and players’ player of the year awards.

Eastwood has racked up 236 appearances for the U’s and signed a three-year contract in 2021.

2015: Kemar Roofe – May 12

The former West Bromwich Albion forward kick-started arguably United’s best summer transfer window of recent times.

Roofe signed a permanent deal following an impressive loan spell in the final three months of 2014/15, helping the U’s pull clear of the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone.

It was a big statement from United and set the tone for the summer, with Liam Sercombe and Ryan Taylor arriving by the end of May.

Roofe joined Leeds United for £3million 12 months later, having scored 26 times to help fire the U’s to promotion from League Two. He went on to play for Belgian giants Anderlecht and is now at Rangers.

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2014: Danny Hylton – June 5

Danny Hylton Picture: David Fleming

The striker was Gary Waddock’s first and only signing as U’s boss – not a bad hit rate.

Hylton joined on a free in the first week of June, but less than a month later Waddock was gone after Michael Appleton was installed when Darryl Eales and Mark Ashton took control of the club.

It did not affect the former Rotherham United forward, who was the one bright spark of a tough start to the 2014/15 season.

Hylton scored 30 goals in 85 U’s appearances, helping Appleton’s men win promotion in 2015/16 before rejecting a new contract to join Luton Town in 2016.

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2013: Tom Newey and Asa Hall – July 4

United’s summer 2013 transfer window finally got up and running with two signings in the first week of July.

Midfielder Hall arrived for his second spell on a six-month loan from Shrewsbury Town, while left back Newey signed a one-year contract following his release by Scunthorpe United.

Hall scored three goals in 21 games as United made a strong start to the 2013/14 season, before returning to Shropshire at the end of the year.

Newey stayed until January 2015, when he had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

2012: Sean Rigg – May 22

Sean Rigg 

The forward completes this list thanks to his May arrival from Port Vale ten years ago.

Rigg turned down a new contract in Burslem and two other potential suitors to sign for Chris Wilder’s side, persuaded by their promotion ambitions.

But United did not get out of League Two during the wide man’s two-year spell, during which he scored nine goals in 85 games.

Still only 33, Rigg retired in 2019 after a season with Bath City.