CIARON Brown has become the fifth Oxford United player to commit their long-term future to the club since the beginning of the season.

The 25-year-old defender’s previous contract was due to expire next summer, however the U’s have announced he has signed a new ‘longer-term’ deal with the club.

Simon Eastwood, Elliott Moore, Stephan Negru and Gatlin O’Donkor have also all penned their futures to United in recent weeks.

READ AGAIN: Oxford United skipper agrees new ‘long-term’ deal with club

Brown joined the U’s on a permanent basis last summer, following a successful loan spell during the 2021/22 campaign.

The Northern Ireland international initially joined United from Cardiff City on January deadline day in 2022, and made 13 appearances before the end of the season.

The U’s snapped him up last June following his release by the Bluebirds, and he has since played a further 61 times for the club.

Last season saw Brown scoop both the players’ player of the year and the Andrew Knapton supporters’ player of the year awards.

He told the United club website: “I am enjoying my football and the team is going well at the moment.

“I saw the plans for the new stadium last week and it just feels like the whole club is making progress and moving forward.

“I really want to be part of that. The gaffer and coaching staff have been excellent, and the new contract offers that little bit of security for me, especially now I have a young family to look after.”

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U’s head coach Liam Manning added: “Ciaron has been outstanding for us. He has played in a couple of positions already this season and you know what you are going to get from him every time.

“He is a fierce competitor, always totally committed and has a fantastic attitude. At 25, he has his best years ahead of him and we are more than happy that that will be within what we are looking to build here.”

Brown has played 12 times in all competitions for United this season, and scored in the 3-0 win at home to Shrewsbury Town earlier this month.

U’s head of recruitment Ed Waldron said: “It’s an exciting time for the club and one of the key things is to have continuity.

“Ciaron has been excellent. Defensively we have looked very solid this season and he has played just about every game during that run.

“People forget he turned pro quite late and hadn’t played that many senior games before joining Oxford.

“He is maturing all the time and with Elliott Moore and Stephan Negru also signing new deals, we are really happy to now see Ciaron commit his future to the club.”