Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey explains Will Vaulks exit

The 32-year-old became the third player to leave the club after United were hit with a temporary transfer ban at the beginning of July.

Vaulks joined Nik Prelec and Ole Romeny – who left on loan- in departing the club this summer, returning to the club where he spent his academy career, Tranmere Rovers.

Dropping down to League Two, the former Wales international leaves Oxford after two years in the Championship with the club, playing 88 times for the Yellows and scoring twice.

The former Oxford midfielder was left out of the U’s squad in their final pre-season friendly, a 2-0 win over Premier League side Ipswich Town, and went on to be announced as a Tranmere player on Monday evening.

United head coach Ramsey opened up on Vaulks’ departure in his press conference before the club’s first competitive fixture of the season, an away trip to Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup.

“We had some honest conversations with Will and the opportunity came up for him to pursue his new opportunity there,” the 35-year-old Yellows boss said.

“I mean, he’s been great for this club and what he’s done on and off the field here has been remarkable.

“We just wish Will the best of luck now going forward.”

Former Oxford United midfielder Will Vaulks (Image: Jason Dawson)

A statement from Oxford included the message: “On behalf of everyone at Oxford United, thank you Will.

“We wish you all the best with your future and we will continue to drive your important work forward.”

From the Wirral, Vaulks moves closer to home by joining Darrell Clarke’s side.

Upon joining Rovers, the centre midfielder said: “I’m grateful to be back.

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“I spent 10 years at the club, but never played a first team game, so this is a move that has been on my mind for a number of years now.

“I really wanted to come back to my boyhood club.

“I made it clear that I wasn’t going anywhere else, other than to Tranmere, it was the club I wanted to join.

“I’m a Wirral boy and I can’t wait to give everything for the club.”

As well as contributing on the pitch for Oxford, Vaulks made a huge impact off it, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign.

He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year.