Oxford united FC
Oxford United exit transfer battle for Colchester star
Oxford sacked their head coach Matt Bloomfield on Saturday almost two months after the end of their Championship campaign, with the club currently searching for a new name to guide them into League One.
The U’s had expressed interest in Lisbie having met with the 22-year-old previously but have since reduced their interest.
The Oxford Mail understands that the club has no made no recent contact whilst three League One rivals have had bids accepted.
According to the Reading Chronicle , Reading, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday have all had bids accepted, with Sky Sports now reporting that Lisbie is undergoing a medical with the Royals.
Colchester United’s Kyreece Lisbie (centre) celebrates (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)
The location of the Berkshire club is understood to have been a factor in choosing Reading as his next destination.
Interest from Oxford is now considered over, especially after the departures of Bloomfield and head of recruitment Scott Mitchell to Leyton Orient earlier this month, the Oxford Mail understands.
The Colchester man had his breakout season last term after moving to Essex from Brentford in 2025, scoring 11 goals and managing six assists in 45 League Two appearances.
Understand there hasn’t been any recent contact from Oxford United regarding Kyreece Lisbie ❌
Led to believe U’s interest is over, especially since Matt Bloomfield and Scott Mitchell’s departures#oufc 🟡 https://t.co/O2GRSBJJE0
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) June 21, 2026
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He has been the subject of plenty of interest in League One this summer, with Peterborough United also previously interest but deciding against meeting Lisbie’s wage demands.
United are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window, which officially opened last week.
Colchester United manager Danny Cowley (left) celebrates with Colchester United’s Kyreece Lisbie (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)
The club has undergone significant changes higher up the food chain after Mitchell’s departure and the arrival of new chairman Dusan Bogdanovic who replaced Grant Ferguson, the former chair moving to a role on the board.
Head coach Bloomfield was dismissed at the weekend meaning the club’s next priority is finding a new boss, with the players reporting back for pre-season on Wednesday, June 24.
The Oxford Mail reported earlier that former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is of interest to Oxford, with the Welshman shooting to the top of the bookmakers’ odds to become the next U’s head coach.
The club has previously met with Ramsey and were impressed with the former Gunners and Juventus man.
The 35-year-old is looking for his first role in professional football management having previously taken over at boyhood club Cardiff City for the span of three games after Omer Riza lost his job in 2025.
Ramsey holds a UEFA A License and is currently studying for his UEFA Pro Licence and has spent time shadowing Wales manager Craig Bellamy.
Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey on long-awaited Huddersfield clash
The Yellows travel to West Yorkshire on Tuesday night for their third League One fixture of the season.
Ramsey’s side have drawn and won each of their first couple of third-tier games so far and will face Huddersfield for the first time in a competitive match since 2004.
The Terriers have begun the campaign with the same record, looking impressive under manager Martin Drury.
Oxford beat last season’s play-off semi-finalists Stevenage last time out, two second-half strikes seeing a resolute United past their physical opponents.
“We want to be on the front foot,” Ramsey reiterated ahead of the trip to the Accu Stadium.
“We want to be controlling games and that’s the way that my staff and I feel like is the best way to do that and win football games.
“It’s difficult to just keep taking blows and blows and trying to keep the opposition.
“For me, it’s to have as much control on the game as possible.”
The last time Oxford faced off against the Terriers was in March 2004 when they were beaten 1-0 at home in the Third Division.
In their 26 total match-ups, the Yellows have won just nine whilst Huddersfield have come away victorious on 13 occasions.
Drury’s side finished ninth in the third tier last season but, after bringing in some good new signings, are set for a strong campaign in a competitive league.
“They’re a really good team,” Ramsey admitted.
“The manager has implemented his ideas across there and you can see that they’re a settled team with good ideas.
Oxford United manager Aaron Ramsey (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
“But, again, full focus is on us and on how we want to approach the game.
“We’ve had a few tests so far, which we really stood up to.
“So, it’ll be different on Tuesday, another tough test, but one that will prepare the boys as best we can.
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“When the boys are playing the way that they are and buying into it, yeah, of course, there has to be positivity around there.
“Obviously, as well, there’s moments when we do look back on things and we identify areas that we can improve on.
“We want to win football games, so we need to score goals. We want to be exciting.”
Tuesday night also sees the arrival of transfer deadline day.
11PM – approximately an hour after full time in West Yorkshire – sees the window slam shut.
Oxford remain under a temporary transfer embargo, however Ramsey has said that the club is “working to try and come up with a few things” after Stanley Mills left for Championship club Preston North End last week.
Oxford united FC
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What next for Oxford United after Stanley Mills departure
The summer-long saga has felt more like a decade and surely head coach Aaron Ramsey has felt the same after enduring the ritual of being asked about Mills’ status on a weekly basis.
After missing the U’s first pre-season friendly, the winger scored in the second, a 2-1 win over Barnet, and featured in the following couple.
He then missed out in the first competitive game of the season, a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, before a move to PNE was confirmed by Ramsey ahead of the League One opening day, but not until January.
Mills messaged his boss requesting not to play in the 2-2 opening day home draw with MK Dons before coming off the bench to assist Gatlin O’Donkor in the Yellows’ 2-1 win at Stevenage.
That would prove to be the 22-year-old’s final display in a United shirt, the young attacker showing little enthusiasm upon Oxford taking the lead in Hertfordshire, hinting that his head had certainly been turned.
“I’ve known about it all summer and from the start I’ve wanted to be here, wanted to get going as a Preston player and now it is official.”
Stan Mills has joined Preston (Image: Jason Dawson)
Mills’ first words as a Lilywhites player say it all.
Considering the former Everton man has never scored more than three goals in a senior season, my personal opinion was that a January move would be ideal for all parties.
In an ideal world, Oxford would keep a star player for six months, Mills could get his numbers up as a standout player in a weaker league and PNE would get an in-form winger through the doors in the new year.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
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But patience is a rare virtue in football these days and off goes the winger to Lancashire.
So, what now for United?
The U’s are without a recognised right-sided midfielder – young Aidan Elliott-Wheeler could be considered – and remain under a temporary transfer embargo.
Aidomo Emakhu has played on the right so far this season and has offered some outlet but he does look much more comfortable in his more natural position on the right.
Oxford United’s Stan Mills celebrates Ciaron Brown’s goal against Preston North End (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)
Then there is 17-year-old Mo Missanga, a youngster who helped change the tide on the opening day against MK Dons and who has excited supporters and the U’s boss alike.
Ramsey has hinted that the Yellows are searching for solutions, and it is understood that a loan transfer where Oxford do not pay any share of the player’s wages could be a way of bringing a player in before Tuesday’s deadline.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult to replace the ability of Mills but there is certainly a sense of relief that this saga is over.
Now it is time to focus on the football and maintain a strong league position heading into January.
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