Aaron Ramsey’s Oxford United hit with transfer ban until January

The club confirmed that they had been handed a transfer embargo – which restricts the registering of new players – by the EFL after admitting they are not compliant with EFL Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.

The embargo comes two weeks after the appointment of former Arsenal and Premier League star as their new head coach, replacing Matt Bloomfield was sacked three days prior.

The U’s squad had returned to Oxford last week as pre-season got underway, with the Yellows’ only new signing – centre back Frankie Kent, formerly of Heart of Midlothian in Scotland – joining up with his new teammates.

In a new statement issued by the club, United revealed that no signings would be made until the January transfer window as shareholders ‘increase investment over the coming months’.

“SCMP, the EFL’s financial control framework specific to League One and League Two clubs, sets limits on the proportion of a club’s turnover and owner funding that can be spent on player-related costs,” the statement read.

Oxford United CEO Tim Williams (left), head coach Aaron Ramsey (centre) and head of football operations Ed Waldron (right) (Image: Newsquest)

“Following relegation from the Championship, and with rule changes removing the staggered approach to equity injections,the club have been working to align their financial position with the reporting requirements of League One.

“With a commitment from shareholders to increase investment into Oxford United over the coming months, along with measures to reduce overall costs, the club will be compliant and in a strong position ahead of the January transfer window. 

“The club have an extremely competitive squad already in place and the focus this summer will be on retaining those players that give Aaron Ramsey and his staff the strongest group possible to deliver success on the pitch this season.”

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There is now extra pressure on the club to retain the players they do currently have contracted.

The U’s had been linked to a number of other names already this summer transfer window, many of whom are free agents, such as Oxford-born former Cheltenham Town winger Jordan Thomas and ex-Peterborough United star Archie Collins.

(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

However, free agents will not be allowed to sign with the restriction being on registering players altogether.

Supporters trust OxVox issued a statement prior to the U’s, saying that the news is “worrying and unsettling at a time when the new manager needs to be focused solely on recruitment and pre season”.

Ramsey’s Yellows head to Spain on Sunday for a warm-weather training camp before four pre-season friendlies, with competitive action beginning on August 8 in the Carabao Cup.