A FORMER reported Oxford United target found himself on the losing side in the Champions League final.

Julian Ryerson was linked with the U’s in January 2018, with reports at the time suggesting United were prepared to break their transfer record and pay a fee of just under £550,000 for the player.

The right back, who now plays for Borussia Dortmund, was understood to be a player that former U’s head coach Pep Clotet, his at the time assistant Derek Fazackerley, and former United chairman Darryl Eales flew to meet.

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Ryerson was playing for Viking FK in Norway, the club where Clotet worked as an assistant coach in 2012.

However, according to Norwegian newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, Ryerson turned down the move because he was looking to play at a higher level.

Ryerson would ultimately join Union Berlin in July 2018, helping them to promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time at the end of his first season in the German capital.

He then signed for Dortmund on a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2023. The Norway international has played in 10 Champions League games this season, including the full 90 minutes as Dortmund lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in the final at Wembley.

Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior scored the goals as Real claimed a 15th European crown.