Ex-Aston Villa and Ipswich starlet on trial at Oxford United

The U’s currently sit eighth in League One after a positive start to the season under new head coach Aaron Ramsey despite operating under a temporary transfer embargo.

Oxford beat Notts County in their most recent league fixture, winning 2-1 at Meadow Lane with Mark Harris and Cameron Brannagan getting on the scoresheet.

During the summer transfer window, the Yellows were restricted from registering any signings which involved a cost to the club, but managed to add Villa’s Luka Lynch and Coventry City midfielder Kai Andrews to their ranks until January on free loan deals.

The club have previously stated that they aim to be compliant with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) by the January transfer window.

After first being reported by Football League World , the Oxford Mail understands that United have taken ex-Villa and Ipswich youngster Abube Onuchukwu on trial with their Under-21 squad.

Onuchukwu, who has declared to represent Nigeria at international level, is one of a number of trialist that the club regularly take on.

We can confirm that midfielder Abube Onuchukwu has returned to Ipswich Town following the conclusion of his loan deal with the club. #ClaretsTogether

— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) January 19, 2026

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The 20-year-old was released by Europa League champions Villa in 2024, where he played with current U’s loanee from the Villans Luka Lynch for the Under-18s, before joining the Tractor Boys.

The centre midfielder had short-term loan spells in non-league with Chelmsford City, Billericay Town and Wingate & Finchley before leaving the Suffolk side this summer.

The embargo that Oxford currently find themselves in does not apply to youth contracts should Onuchukwu be successful in his trial.