OXFORD United have signed Jodi Jones following a successful trial period.
The winger has trained with the U’s for most of the summer and has now agreed a one-year deal, with the option for a further 12 months.
United have not confirmed whether Jones signed in time for tomorrow's Sky Bet League One opener at Derby County, with the cut-off earlier today.
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The free agent was released by Coventry City at the end of last season and played in United’s final five friendlies of the summer, scoring against Eastleigh.
The 24-year-old first linked up with the squad at their June training camp in Spain and now feels at home with the U’s.
“I’ve been here for quite a while, but I’m delighted to finally get it over the line,” he said.
“I was on holiday with my family when I found out (he would train with United).
“I knew it was going to be tough going out there by myself, because I was at Coventry for a very long time and it was a new environment.
“Going anywhere would have been a big change and the boys welcomed me.
“I’ve known Marcus Browne for a very long time, we played together when we were six or seven years old and we’re from the same area.
“I went out there, worked hard and it was a really good pre-season.
“I said to my agent when I knew I was leaving Coventry, I kept my eye on Oxford because Marcus was there and I always look out for my friends in football.
“I saw how attacking they are and thought it would be absolutely perfect if it happened.”
Jones is United’s sixth summer signing and the third winger to arrive, after Yanic Wildschut and Josh Murphy.
The wide man came through Dagenham & Redbridge’s youth system and initially joined Coventry on loan in March 2016, before the move became permanent that summer.
Jones was on top form at the start of the 2017/18 season only to suffer the first of three cruciate knee ligament injuries, leaving him sidelined for ten months.
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Further ruptures in late 2018 and September 2020 limited him to just 97 appearances in just over six seasons with the Sky Blues.
He played 12 games for Coventry last term and was briefly on trial at Reading earlier this month, in between his time at United.
And Jones is ready to get his career back on track.
He said: “Last season I was fit, I trained every single day, played reserve games and came on for Coventry for 15 to 20 minutes here and there.
“It was better than being injured and I’ve got through a whole pre-season. I’m fit and raring to go.”
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