The Lions’ boss previously said that the club did not initially want to sell Emakhu during the winter transfer window, but it was the Irishman’s wish to seek more game time elsewhere.

Emakhu was used mainly as an impact substitute at his former club and struggled to tie down a place in The U’s first XI after his deadline day move.

(Image: Oxford United)

Performances in the final few games of the season led to the 22-year-old starting the final two fixtures of the season – a 4-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday and Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at The Den.

“[It was] great to see Aidomo,” Lions boss Neil said after the final day fixture.

“[He is] a really good lad; always gave everything when he went on the pitch for us.

Emakhu got a good reception from the home fans. Told reporters this week he’d be a #Millwall fan for life pic.twitter.com/I3eKLt7iK7

— William Scott (@WillScottSports) May 2, 2026

“Aidomo and I had a couple of chats prior to him leaving. He wanted to go to get game time. He didn’t want to leave Millwall.

“So I’m not saying it as if he wanted to get out the door and we should all hate him. He’s a good lad.

“He wanted to play, we just couldn’t give him as much game time as he wanted while he was here and I understand that he wanted to go and get game time which I’ve got no problems with. I’ve had that conversation many a time.”

Matt Bloomfield’s side lost 2-0 at The Den thanks to a Femi Azeez double, U’s captain Brannagan beaten by the winger for the opening goal.

It was Oxford’s final Championship fixture before returning to League One after two years in the second tier with relegation confirmed before their win over Sheffield Wednesday last week.

Brannagan was named club captain last September, taking over from the departing Elliott Moore, and was a key member of the League One promotion-winning Yellows side of 2023/24.

“I thought they were very good,” the 29-year-old said regarding opponents Millwall.

“Didn’t think we were great. Obviously they had a lot to for and it’s a tough place to come. I thought they kept the ball very well and I don’t think we laid a glove on them, to be honest. That’s the frustrating part. It’s all about looking forward to next season.

Millwall’s Casper de Norre (centre) and Oxford United’s Cameron Brannagan (right) battle for the ball (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

“We want to bounce back. The frustration is massive at this moment in time. It hurts a lot; it has done now since the day we found out.

“I think we have to get ourselves ready this summer because it’s going to be a really tough season next season. We want to bounce back and get back in this league.”

Oxford have a big squad to deal with in the summer, with players coming and going after loan moves, some out of contract, and others whom the club will surely be receiving offers for.

Final post-match debrief of the season as #OxfordUnited now out of the Championship 🗯️

😖 Millwall 2-0 defeat
⬇️ End of Championship stay
🔜 Looking ahead to summer + next season#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/quCUBZmA1T

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) May 2, 2026

“There will be people come and go, obviously loan players go back as well to their clubs. It’ll be full focus on pre season once we get in from the first day and we’ve got to get it right because we want to get back to where this club should be in this league.”

READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield hints at summer changes

READ MORE: Oxford United ‘showed character’ in defeat at Millwall

READ MORE: Oxford United beaten 2-0 by Millwall to end Championship stay

The U’s will return to the third tier of English football for the 2026/27 season where they spent eight years competing before winning promotion two years ago.

“We’re going to need big characters all season. We played in League One for a long time and it’s not an easy league. It’s something that we’ve got to be prepared for come pre season. From day one, we have to have that aim to try and get back to where we want to be and that’s here.”

A standout and leader for the majority of his eight years at the club, Brannagan could be one who garners interest from elsewhere this summer.

“I’m under contract so it will be full focus in pre season. We want to improve, we want to be better.”

The U’s were defeated 2-0 by the promotion-chasing Lions at The Den, Alex Neil’s men missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League despite their victory.

Oxford were relegated before their penultimate match of the season before beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 last weekend.

After defeat in London, Bloomfield commented on the squad’s status for next season in League One.

“I cannot wait to get working, to get building, to get moving forward,” the 42-year-old declared.

“There’s a lot for us to do.

(Image: Oxford United)

“We’ve got the nucleus of a really good squad for League One.

“We’ve got some real good young players who are going to help complement the seniors.

“We still know there’s going to be a lot to do because [success] doesn’t just happen.

“I’ll be back into work on Tuesday morning. There’s obviously lots of conversations to be had with loan players returning, with lads who are either under contract or out of contract.

” There’s lots for us to work through and the only way it’s possible is just to get on with it. We’ve got to do it this week.

Oxford United’s Jeon Jin-woo stretches against Millwall (Image: Oxford United)

 “Ed [Waldron] and I have been doing a lot this week already and that will continue this week moving forward.

“We’ve got to make sure that we’re putting the building blocks in place.

“The end of the season is always really unsettling, especially when you change divisions.

Will Lankshear is the last remaining player to applaud the U’s support. 🥲

An emotional goodbye for the Spurs loanee – what an asset he has been. 👏#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/qVrFB0pcno

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) May 2, 2026

“I’ve learned a lot, especially in this last week, about what we need to do moving forward.”

Bloomfield lamented the two goals that Oxford conceded on Saturday, Femi Azeez the scorer of both.

“The counter-attack from the first one I’m so disappointed with,” the United boss continued.

READ MORE: Oxford United beaten 2-0 by Millwall to end Championship stay

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“It’s our free-kick, the ball ends up in the back of our net. There’s some things we need to go over in the summer and adjust because we need to be a winning team next year more often than what we’ve been in the last two years.

“I think that’s probably the biggest disappointment for me right now; the fact that we’ve come up against such a good team and such a big day for them, yet you’re looking at both goals saying they’re both so preventable.”

Bloomfield remained firm when questioned on his position at head coach for next season.

“I’m excited for next season. I’ve not been told anything to the contrary, so I keep working.”