Oxford united FC
Oxford United sign Luka Lynch on loan from Aston Villa
The U’s confirmed the 19-year-old had joined on Wednesday morning – the morning after transfer deadline day – on a loan deal until January 2 from the Premier League club.
The winger has starred for the Villans’ Under-21 side after graduating from the academy but has not yet made a senior competitive appearance.
Lynch impressed in pre-season for Unai Emery’s side, scoring twice – once against Walsall and once against Porto – before bagging an assist in Indonesia against BG Pathum United.
The signing comes after a late outgoing saw Oxford let Belgian midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker join Championship club Bristol City on a season-long deal with an option to buy.
Aaron Ramsey’s Yellows suffered their first League One defeat of the season on deadline day, losing 3-1 to Huddersfield Town in West Yorkshire.
Upon joining Oxford, new signing Lynch told the club: “I’m really excited to get started.
“As soon as I spoke to the club and heard about the plans for the season, it felt like a really good opportunity for me.
“I’ve had a good conversation with the staff about how they want me to play and what they expect from me.
“I’m an attacking player and I want to be positive, create chances and hopefully contribute with goals and assists.
READ MORE: Oxford United player ratings in poor display against Huddersfield
READ MORE: Oxford United midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker signs for Bristol City
“I know how well young players have done here in recent years and I feel like Oxford is the perfect place for me.”
Head coach Ramsey added: “Luka is a player we’re really pleased to bring into the group.
“He’s an exciting young winger with a lot of the qualities we look for. He’s direct, has good ability in one-on-one situations and has the confidence to make things happen in the final third.
“He’s coming from a very good environment at Aston Villa and has been highly thought of throughout his development.
“We believe he can have a real impact for us. We’re looking forward to helping him continue his development and seeing what he can bring to the team.”
The addition of the wide midfielder comes after the sale of Stanley Mills to Preston North End last week.
Lynch is the second loan addition of the summer transfer window after Kai Andrews arrived from Coventry City.
The U’s remain under a temporary transfer embargo and bring in the Villa man with no additional cost to the club and with special dispensation from the EFL.
Oxford’s head of football operations, Ed Waldron, commented: “Luka is a player we’ve followed closely and we’re delighted to have been able to bring him to Oxford United.
“[He] has all the attributes we look for in a young attacking player.
“He’s hungry to play, wants to test himself at senior level and has the potential to make a big contribution for us this season.”
Harris has scored four goals in the U’s first eight games with Aaron Ramsey’s team sitting eighth in the division.
The Wales international’s last goal came in Oxford’s 2-1 win at Notts County nine days ago, opening the scoring after a mistake from the goal keeper.
Having started all of the Yellows’ league matches so far this season, Harris is firmly Ramsey’s first-choice striker despite the impressive form of young centre forward Gatlin O’Donkor who has three goal from eight substitute appearances.
After two years in the Championship with United, the 27-year-old has opened up on his targets for the season ahead of the welcoming of Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night.
When asked what his goal target was this campaign, Harris replied: “To beat the promotion season.
“Four [goals] in eight [games]; not bad.
“One every other game, I would take. I should get my target by that.”
When Oxford won promotion to the Championship in 2023/24, the former Cardiff City and Wrexham man bagged 15 goals in the league – 19 in all competitions – which he is trying to beat this year.
The goals became harder to obtain during the two second-tier seasons, with the Swansea-born man scoring nine over the couple of campaigns.
When asked if League One lacked the same intensity as England’s second tier, Harris replied: “If less, only slightly, I would say.
“Different games bring different needs, let’s say, it’s still an intense league. You’ve got to fight for every ball, you’ve got to win every ball.
READ MORE: Ramsey on Oxford United star availability and avoiding distractions
READ MORE: Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch stakes Oxford United claim
“It’s no walk in the park compared to the Championship, put it that way.”
Under his former Wales teammate Ramsey, Harris is enjoying his football and role as centre forward.
“Since he’s come in, it’s not just the defenders and the midfielders that defend, it’s every single one of us,” the striker continued.
“We lose the ball, we react and we get it back. If we don’t get it back, we all get back in.
“Even me, if I’m the highest person on the pitch, I’ve got to get back behind the ball. That’s what I try to do.
“But yeah, our main principles, however you want to put it, is if we lose that ball, we get it back. And if not, we’re all getting into shape, compact. Hard to break down.
“[Ramsey] doesn’t want to just be a nice team that can just pass because you need the defensive side and you need the reactions and your compactness.
“You need it all together to be a good side and he’s brought that in. Everyone’s bought into it.
“Everyone loves playing the way we’re playing at the minute. It’s been great so far.”
The U’s have been handed a home draw with the Boro in their first FA Cup fixture of the season.
Oxford have not played in this round of the competition since 2023 when they were last in League One.
Aaron Ramsey’s side have faced Stevenage once already this season, winning 2-1 at the Broadhall Way in their second game of the league season.
The Yellows lie eighth in the table at the time of the draw and are set to face Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night at the Kassam Stadium.
Alex Revell’s Stevenage sit 12th in the table after a middling start to the season.
READ MORE: Oxford City to face former Premier League winners Leicester City in FA Cup
READ MORE: Ramsey on Oxford United star availability and avoiding distractions
Last season, Oxford reached the fourth round of the historic cup competition, beating MK Dons away on penalties when entering in the third round before losing 1-0 to Premier League side Sunderland at home in the fifth round.
The match will be Ramsey’s first in the competition as manager after winning the tournament three FA Cup titles with Arsenal as a player.
Oxford’s best run in the competition came in the 1963/64 season when they reached the quarter-finals, becoming the first ever Fourth Division club to do so.
Meanwhile, Oxford City are set to face former Premier League and FA Cup champions Leicester City at the MGroup Stadium.
Oxford United supporters travelling to the stadium for the match against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, October 20, are being told to allow extra time for their journeys due to ongoing works.
There are no changes to the usual travel arrangements, and no road closures are in place.
However, diversions will remain in place after the match on the roundabouts at Grenoble Road to help manage traffic flow.
Roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Watlington Road at the roundabout with Grenoble Road are causing significant delays.
Fans are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and allow extra time for their journey.
Away supporters are also advised to consider alternative routes to the stadium.
The club said: “Please plan your journey in advance and allow extra time when travelling to and from the stadium.”
Tuesday briefing: Can Andy Burnham beat Britain’s headphone dodgers? | UK news
Mark Harris targets more than 15 goals for Oxford United
New Bradford railway station will ‘transform travel across the north’ | Business
-
Oxford united FC4 weeks agoChris Gunter steps away Wales role to focus on Oxford United
-
Oxford University4 weeks agoNew to the Oxford English Dictionary this September
-
Oxford united FC2 weeks agoLIVE: Exeter City vs Oxford United – Jersey Mike's Trophy group stage
-
Traffic & Transport3 weeks agoWhy should I have to pay more for buses if I don’t use a smartphone? | Bus fares
-
Traffic & Transport3 weeks agoHow poor public transport policy is putting the brake on cities | Road transport
-
Student Life3 weeks agoOxford partnership allows OpenAI to use rare Bodleian texts to train ChatGPT
-
Oxford united FC2 weeks agoOxford United lose to Exeter City on penalties in Jersey Mike’s Trophy
-
Oxford united FC3 weeks agoNorthern Ireland fans laud Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown