Oxford united FC
Oxford United player ratings for 2025/26 Championship season
Jamie Cumming – 6
Played every minute in the Championship this season.. His distribution probably is not quite at second-tier level but a save percentage of 70.2 is respectable (13th of 27 goalkeepers in the league).
Will Lankshear – 8
Scoring 12 goals in a struggling side is commendable and he improved game by game, making the striking position his own.
Stan Mills – 8.5
Supporters’ and players’ player of the season, Mills was spectacularly consistent in a yellow shirt. Was a constant threat under Matt Bloomfield and one of the first names on the team sheet.
Michal Helik – 6.5
The Yellows vice captain started the season strongly with a high number of defensive contributions. He lost his spot in the season earlier in the calendar year to Christ Makosso but regained it and tied it down as United went on a good run of results.
Sam Long – 7.5
The man who keeps proving people wrong. Became a crucial part of the defence yet again when some thought his time at this level might have been up.
Will Vaulks – 6
In and out of the team this year, the experienced midfielder is less mobile but a stable presence in the centre of the park.
Cameron Brannagan – 7.5
The skipper remains a talisman for Oxford and has scored a few of his trademark screamers, his passing and long-range efforts key when the U’s perform well.
Mark Harris – 5.5
Careful not to go too harsh here as Harris can be a nuisance for defenders, but he is just not a goal scorer at Championship level.
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Ciaron Brown – 6.5
Has drawn some critics this year but when he plays well, United play well. A Brown and Helik partnership in League One would be very strong.
Jack Currie – 8
A strong Championship defender who offers balance and will likely generate interest this summer.
Brodie Spencer – 6.5
Brilliant defensively but room to improve on the ball. Only 22 years old and a good asset.
Brian De Keersmaecker – 7.5
A very gifted footballer and probably the U’s best in the first half of the season. Campaign ended prematurely through decision to have surgery.
Przemyslaw Placheta – 5.5
Curtailed by injury and inconsistency but had some memorable moments with last-gasp strikes against Millwall and Ipswich Town.
Nik Prelec – 5
Just the one goal but showed signs in a season also hampered by injury.
Siriki Dembele – 3
Ineffective off the bench in the first half of the campaign and frozen out in the second.
Ole Romeny – 4
Not at Championship level. Interesting to see how he possibly fares in the third tier with it still hard to judge his true level.
Greg Leigh – 4.5
Feels weird rating Leigh as he is still contracted but we have not seen him play for half a season.
He did not have a great first half of the campaign under Rowett (who did?) and then was a victim of a big squad and not registered for the second. Remains to be seen whether he will be used next year.
Tyler Goodrham – 6
Weird season for the academy lad who dropped out of the frame for a bit under Rowett.
He then popped back up and reminded everyone of his ability at attacking midfield under caretaker boss Craig Short before suffering a season-ending injury.
Will be great to see him back in action soon.
Hidde ter Avest – 5
Ravaged with injuries and never got past Sam Long and Brodie Spencer in the pecking order.
Ben Davies – 6
Solid when called upon but only really played when United operated with a back five, which they moved away from under Bloomfield. He then did not from early February onwards.
Matt Phillips – 4.5
Past Championship level at 35 years old and had his contract mutually terminated on deadline day in January.
Tom Bradshaw – 3.5
Featured a few times off the bench under Rowett but another who was not up to Championship standard. Left for Barnsley on loan in January and has since left the club.
Louie Sibley – 3.5
Made five substitute appearances under Rowett before heading out on loan to Bradford City in January where he has not played since February.
Ruben Roosken – 4
An interesting case. Signed in January from Huddersfield Town with an obligation to buy, which has been triggered, he has played four times but not made the squad on 11 occasions.
Will be interesting to see how much he features next term.
*Must have made four or more appearances to be rated (Elliott Moore not included). List ordered by appearances.
*Not including summer loans who departed in January. Not including January signings (separate article to come).
Oxford United travel to Leyton Orient for the first round of the Carabao Cup and Aaron Ramsey’s first competitive match in charge.
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The Yellows conceded a late duo of goals scored by Demetri Mitchell and Idris El Mizouni to bow out of the competition against their League One opponents.
It was a well-contested match at Brisbane Road until late on, the two strikes providing a disappointing end to former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey’s first taste of competitive management with the U’s.
United began brightly, Aidomo Emakhu immediately working space in the box to cross but could only find Nathan Baxter’s grasp.
The winger got beyond his man soon after and put another ball in looking for Siriki Dembele who was beaten to it by former Yellows loanee Fin Stevens.
Dembele was bright in the first period, winning a free kick which Cameron Brannagan sent just over the crossbar.
Ciaron Brown headed at corner at the keeper before the hosts found some momentum.
🚨 Aaron Ramsey on Brian De Keersmaecker extended absence from the Oxford United squad:
🗣️ “Him and Stan were training back home and hopefully they can both join the group.
“They are two different cases where Brian hasn’t played any minutes. Stan has.
“Hopefully now next week…
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) August 8, 2026
Efforts from Isaac Hayden and Yusuf Akhamrich failed to bother Jamie Cumming, but a good cross from Somto Boniface was turned just wide by the arriving Zech Obiero.
Oxford were forced to be patient as the O’s restricted their passing lanes, eventually seeing a shot from Dembele fly over from outside the box.
A blocked effort from Boniface saw out a tightly contested first half.
Again, the U’s started brightly, Dembele and Brannagan combining well but Harris could not turn the captain’s cross goalward.
Boniface and El Mizouni fired off target for the O’s before Emakhu saw a powerful shot saved by Baxter.
READ MORE: Oxford United player ratings in Leyton Orient cup defeat
READ MORE: Leyton Orient 2-0 Oxford United – Carabao Cup recap
Some space opened up on the front foot for Oxford through Emakhu and Harris, but both opted for the wrong options with the former failing to pick out the latter before the Welshman decided not to shoot in a good area.
The hosts, with the home advantage, began to fashion some late pressure.
The opener came with five minutes left on the clock, Mitchell improvising well to turn the ball in from a good cross.
A quickfire second saw the O’s secure the win, El Mizouni sliding the ball past Cumming from a low cross into the area.
Aaron Ramsey says Stan Mills has trained on his own the last few days:
🗣️ “It was a medical decision for him to train over the last few days on his own to be able to re-join the group next week”#oufc 🟡
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) August 8, 2026
The last-minute strikes saw Oxford bow out of the cup in the first round, with the League One opening day at home to MK Dons on the horizon.
Orient: Baxter, Stevens, Olowu, El Mizouni, Hayden, Dobra (Mitchell 70), Boniface (Morris 77), Akhamrich (Springett 70), Obiero (Wellens 83), Chinedu, Archibald (Kabia 70)
Oxford: Cumming, Spencer (Kioso 86), Long, Brown, Currie, McDonnell (Sibley 73), Brannagan, Emakhu, Goodrham (Elliott-Wheeler 73), Dembele (O’Donkor 62), Harris (Snowden 86)
Bookings: Stevens; Emakhu
After defeat in Aaron Ramsey’s first competitive fixture, here is how we rated the Yellows team…
Jamie Cumming – 5
Distributed the ball decently well despite appearing visibly frustrated at his lack of options in the first half.
Disappointed late on as he was rooted to the spot for the opening goal and unable to reach the second, his positioning not quite on point.
Brodie Spencer – 5.5
Did not see many of his trademark tackles and was caught out of position on occasion.
Tried to be positive with his passing forward as Orient pressed well.
Sam Long – 5.5
Long and Brown were solid enough until the end when the O’s movement caught them and the defence out.
Saw a preview of that movement in the first half which had the potential to cause problems, and did.
Ciaron Brown – 5.5
One or two decent blocks in there but failed to stop the cross for the second goal.
Jack Currie – 6
Took up some good positions early on and provided an outlet on the left with Dembele.
Possibly missed his connection with Emakhu which was fruitful against Ipswich.
Jamie McDonnell – 6
Thought he looked good for the most part.
McDonnell’s passing was sure and accurate and he had his usual energy. He was withdrawn before the late goals.
Cameron Brannagan – 6
Got about the pitch well but maybe could have done more to get back for the two goals.
Still, made some good contributions at both ends with one memorable tackle in the box and some good play with Dembele in the opposing one.
READ MORE: Leyton Orient 2-0 Oxford United – Carabao Cup recap
READ MORE: Oxford United lose to Leyton Orient in Aaron Ramsey competitive debut
Aidomo Emakhu – 5.5
Started brightly but gave away some reckless fouls and was booked.
A couple of efforts were blocked but on the right he does not have as much space to shoot clearly.
Tyler Goodrham – 6
Picked up some good positions and turned on the ball well at times, but the Orient man-to-man marking kept him more and more quiet as the game went on.
🚨 Aaron Ramsey on Brian De Keersmaecker extended absence from the Oxford United squad:
🗣️ “Him and Stan were training back home and hopefully they can both join the group.
“They are two different cases where Brian hasn’t played any minutes. Stan has.
“Hopefully now next week…
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) August 8, 2026
Siriki Dembele – 6.5
Exciting footwork as usual and did well to win fouls.
Shuffled into space centrally and had a bit of a spark on the ball.
Mark Harris – 6
Battled well and took up better positions as the game went on.
Pressed hard but decision-making left a bit to be desired.
Aaron Ramsey says Stan Mills has trained on his own the last few days:
🗣️ “It was a medical decision for him to train over the last few days on his own to be able to re-join the group next week”#oufc 🟡
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) August 8, 2026
Substitutes:
Gatlin O’Donkor – 6
Tried to hold the ball up and link play and had one or two nice flicks.
Did not manage to trouble the goal.
Louie Sibley – 5
Aidan Elliott-Wheeler – 5
The youngster struggling off the bench, opting to come inside from a good chance in the box and losing it and could not quite make anything stick.
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