Jake Wright, one of Oxford United’s Wembley heroes, has joined the U’s on a free transfer from Brighton – and admitted he only ever wanted to be at Oxford.

The 23-year-old defender, who was outstanding in United’s play-off final win over York which brought them promotion back to the Football League, proved a key member of Chris Wilder’s team after joining on loan from the Seagulls on December 31.

It had gone very quiet over the summer as to whether the U’s would be able to get Wright to join them, and Brighton boss Gus Poyett claimed in early June they had heard nothing from Oxford.

But Wright, who had a year remaining at Brighton, negotiated an exit strategy, and asked the League One club to cancel his contract.

And he has now put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the U’s.

“I wanted to get this done all summer,” Wright admitted. “I’m delighted to have got it sorted.

“This is where I wanted to be. As soon as I’d been here a few months I realised that – it’s a brilliant club.

“I could have gone back to Brighton but it was my choice to cancel the remaining year on the contract . . . I wanted to sign at Oxford.”

The 12th Man Fund is helping out with his relocation costs as he prepares to look for a house and move to Oxfordshire.

Wright got married in Mexico in the summer, but Wembley is still fresh in the memory.

“Yes, it seems quite long ago now, but it was a brilliant day, as was the whole thing – the play-off semi-finals before it, the day itself at Wembley and the parade through the town centre afterwards.”

Meanwhile, Crawley Town boss Steve Evans has stepped in at the last minute to snatch former Oxford United forward Jamie Cook from under the noses of Stevenage, after the 30-year-old forward rejected a chance to join Rushden.

Crawley have also signed ex-U’s striker Craig McAllister from Exeter.

Cook said: “I am delighted to be back and playing for the manager again. I have played my best football under him and that was such a big factor in my decision to come back.”