OXFORD United have bolstered their forward line with the signing of versatile attacker Siriki Dembele.

The 27-year-old, who can play on the wing or as a striker, joins from Birmingham City on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

Earlier this summer, he was linked with moves to fellow Sky Bet Championship sides Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City.

It is understood that the Blues valued Dembele at between £1 million to £1.5 million, and either figure would break United’s club record transfer fee, surpassing the money spent on Dean Windass in 1998, and Marvin Johnson in 2016.

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Dembele made his professional debut for Grimsby Town in August 2017, before moving to Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee in June 2018.

He scored seven goals in 47 matches during his debut campaign for the Posh, including a solo effort from distance in a 2-2 draw against the U’s in December 2018.

Dembele added six strikes in 30 games during the 2019/20 season, and again netted against United, this time in a 4-0 home win for the Posh in February 2020.

The forward enjoyed his most prolific campaign for the Posh during the 2020/21 season, bagging 13 times in 46 matches. He scored twice in three games against the U’s that campaign.

He joined AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee on January deadline day in 2022, and helped the Cherries win promotion to the Premier League that season.

After making nine appearances at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, Dembele signed for AJ Auxerre on loan for the second half of the season.

A permanent move to Birmingham followed in July 2023, where he played 37 times last season, notching six goals, as the Blues suffered relegation to Sky Bet League One.

Dembele started Birmingham’s first game of the current campaign, a 1-1 draw at home to Reading, but was taken off at half-time.

His younger brother, Karamoko, joined United’s Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers on loan from Stade Brestois earlier this month, following a successful temporary stint at Blackpool last season.