JACK Currie is glad to be in familiar territory after joining Oxford United, and admits joining the U’s has always been on his radar.

The 22-year-old left back arrived from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee last week, leaving behind a club where he came through the academy.

However, it was at the Kassam Stadium where he made his professional debut, as the Dons lost 3-1 in an EFL Trophy tie back in February 2021.

While any player’s debut is a special occasion, for Currie there was added emotion as his parents met in nearby Wheatley.

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He said: “The club have been tracking my progress over the past couple of years. They’ve always been a team that have been interested and I’ve always known about them.

“It’s only the past couple of weeks that things started to heat up, and I’m here now and I’m really looking forward to it.

“This is a club that’s always been on my radar. I made my first professional appearance at the Kassam, so it holds quite dearly.

“My parents met here as well, so it’s a club that I’m aware of and I fully know the presence and history behind it.

“They met in Wheatley and have been together ever since, so it’s another reason to come back.”

Currie’s displays for the Dons over the past couple of seasons, making 93 appearances in all competitions, alerted other clubs, but it was United that won the race for his signature.

“There were a couple around Championship and a couple around League One,” said Currie.

“The main thing with Oxford was the plan and the project that got brought to me by the gaffer and the staff.

“It was something that really attracted me as a player, and that’s all you can ever want.”

A couple of familiar faces have also helped the defender settle smoothly into life with the U’s.

Currie said: “I know James Golding. He was at Wimbledon for a little bit in the academy days, and Tyler [Goodrham] from the academy days as well.

“It’s quite nice to have that comfort of coming in and being able to speak to someone early doors, just to get acquainted.”

After making his senior debut at Grenoble Road, Currie spent time on loan at Eastbourne Borough in the Vanarama National League South during the 2021/22 season.

His breakthrough campaign came the following season, as he made 48 appearances for the Dons, scoring once, in a 2-0 win at home to Gillingham.

During the most recent campaign, Currie played 45 times, and again found the scoresheet once, as the Dons won 3-1 at Walsall.