Oxford United head to Spain without star man and new signing

The U’s left for Cadiz in Spain on Sunday to take part in a warm-weather training camp after playing a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wealdstone which they won 7-1.

Oxford will spend a week abroad under new head coach Aaron Ramsey who replaced former boss Matt Bloomfield last month.

Not all of the squad have travelled to the camp for fitness reasons, winger and last season’s Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season Mills being one of them.

New signing Kent has not yet been registered to the club; the centre back arrived as a free agent after leaving Scottish side Heart of Midlothian at the end of last season.

Oxford United winger Stan Mills has not travelled to the warm-weather camp in Spain (Image: Jason Dawson)

Oxford were put under a temporary transfer embargo last week meaning they cannot register any new players – including loan signings and free agents – until the January window.

The club has been found to not be compliant with the EFL Salary Cost Management Protocol Regulations (SCMP).

Two players have departed OX4 since the embargo was confirmed, with Indonesia international Ole Romeny and Slovenian striker Nik Prelec both leaving.

Romeny has joined Fortuna Sittard on loan with an option to buy whilst Prelec left for Polish outfit Jagiellonia Białystok on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

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Those two departure were already in motion before the embargo hit and the club’s focus now is retaining the bulk of Ramsey’s current playing squad.

In a statement, United said: “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.”

Oxford star right midfielder Mills is one name who is expected to garner interest this summer after being one of the club’s most impressive and consistent performers for the majority of last term.

Oxford United winger Stan Mills has not travelled to the warm-weather camp in Spain (Image: Jason Dawson)

Speculation had gathered further with supporters noticing that South Korean winger Jeon Jin-woo was pictured wearing the no.7 shirt that Mills was initially seen in at the start of pre-season.

However, after initially being given the no.7 jersey, Mills opted to change back to his previous no.17 due to memories of injuries when previously wearing no.7.

The 22-year-old wore the number during his first spell at Oxford, a loan move from Everton in the 2023/24 season.

The Englishman, and son of former Manchester City and England defender Danny Mills, picked up a serious knee injury in that season.