Oxford united FC
Oxford United lose loan stars as Roosken clause is triggered
Roosken has had his obligation-to-buy clause triggered during his loan spell at Oxford which means he joins the club permanently from Huddersfield Town.
The Terriers confirmed the move in their retained list published Wednesday.
The Dutchman featured only four times for Matt Bloomfield’s Yellows, three in the Championship and once in the FA Cup against Premier League side Sunderland.
Two of those appearances were from the bench and two from the start, with Roosken omitted from the match day squad entirely on 12 occasions.
It is understood that the ease of the conditions needed to be met by The U’s meant that the left back’s permanent signing was likely and has now officially taken place.
United’s five other loan players – Nik Prelec was signed permanently earlier this year after an initial loan move – all had their returns to their parent clubs confirmed by The Yellows on Wednesday.
Will Lankshear and Jamie Donley have gone back to Tottenham Hotspur, with the latter’s option to buy still in play but unlikely following Oxford’s relegation to League One.
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Midfielder Yunus Konak has returned to Premier League side Brentford and defender Ben Davies re-joins Scottish giants Rangers.
The final departure has seen centre back Christ Makosso return to League One outfit Luton Town who missed out on the play-off places by a single point this term.
Like Donley, Makosso’s January loan move also contained an option to buy which is also still active.
It is unclear whether this option will be exercised after Bloomfield’s team’s relegation from the Championship.
Makosso enjoyed a run of six full matches played in a row following his January arrival.
However, he dropped out of the team at late notice before The U’s 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in February after he arrived late to the stadium, Bloomfield deciding to drop the defender for Michal Helik.
Helik continued to start over the 21-year-old who then only saw a 10-minute cameo against Preston North End in the following game before being banished to the bench for the remaining 10 fixtures of the season.
Makosso helped the team keep two clean sheets in his seven total appearances, both goalless draws against Coventry City and Middlesbrough.
The Congolese centre back unfortunately gave away the penalty which saw Premier League side Sunderland beat The U’s 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium to knock Makosso and co. out of the FA Cup.
The Tottenham Hotspur youngster’s sweet second strike against Sheffield Wednesday has seen him selected for the April award.
After flicking home a neat opening goal in a 4-1 win over The Owls, Lankshear doubled his and his side’s tally when he picked up the ball inside the attacking half, took a clever touch inside, and whipped the ball into the top right corner from outside the penalty area.
In The U’s final home game of the Championship season, the 21-year-old said goodbye to the United faithful in style before returning to Premier League club Spurs this week.
Lankshear is up against Coventry City’s Frank Onyeka, Ipswich Town’s Kasey McAteer, and Charlton Athletic’s Charlie Kelman for the monthly accolade.
After joining on loan last summer, the English centre forward gradually became a fan favourite at the Kassam Stadium due to his exemplary performances and attitude.
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Lankshear was The Yellows’ Golden Boot winner this season with 12 goals in all competitions whilst playing in a struggling side that were relegated to League One.
He also scooped up the Young Player of the Year award at Oxford’s awards night in April.
The U’s finished 22nd in the Championship and will play in League One next season.
Buckingham will lead Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood into the King Cup of Champions final against Al Hilal.
Al Hilal harbour a squad of big names in world football, none other than 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and Real Madrid hero Karim Benzema.
The World Cup runner-up plays alongside other global stars such as former Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo and ex-Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.
Ex-Oxford boss Buckingham’s squad is not graced with the same stardom as their opponents but possess a duo of Englishmen in former Nottingham Forest youngster Adam Berry and ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder John Buckley.
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Al-Kholood beat Benzema’s former side Al-Ittihad on penalties in the semi-final and go into the final as underdogs against former Inter Milan manager and Italy stiker Simone Inzaghi’s Blue Waves.
The match will be a big test for Buckingham who is looking to seal a fairytale story and win a first major title for his club in their 56 years of existence.
Al-Kholood are currently 14th in the 18-team Saudi Pro League.
The 41-year-old coach previously led The U’s to promotion to the Championship for the first time in over two decades via the League One play-offs.
Buckingham was surprisingly sacked in December of the following season and replaced by Gary Rowett.
Bogdanovic takes the wheel after, it is understood, he was chief executive officer of Indonesian club Garudayaksa’s foundation and already had a relationship with U’s owner Erick Thohir.
The two were pictured with each other alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino in December 2024.
Ferguson, who was chairman at Oxford for four years and enjoyed promotion to the Championship in that period, will remain at the club as a member of the board and is joined by another new name in Rudi Laksmana.
Laksmana, it is understood, is another Indonesian figure who was on the board at Italian giants Inter Milan, as was Ferguson before joining Oxford.
With questions around the reasoning for reshuffling and new appointments still lingering, fans have reacted to the recent news.
The Oxford United Supporters Trust, OxVox, posted a statement on X on Thursday morning which read: “Thank you to Grant Ferguson for everything he has done as chairman over the past four years, guiding the development of Oxford United on and off the pitch.
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“We are seeking talks with the club to understand the detail behind this decision and to hear the vision for the future with the new board.”
The club have remained tight-lipped on any further information than what was said in Wednesday’s statement.
New Oxford United chairman Dusan Bogdanovic pictured here with U’s owner Erick Thohir and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in December 2024. 🤝
(via @dusan.ph on Instagram) #oufc 🟡https://t.co/hnkQLRsx5e pic.twitter.com/1Rylrf07Lu
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) May 6, 2026
“These appointments reflect Oxford United’s continued focus on strengthening its leadership, governance and long-term planning,” read the statement on the club’s website.
The appointments of the new chair and Laksmana of an ‘ongoing commitment to driving football performance, improving strategic direction and progression both on and off the pitch’, say the club.
Jem Faulkner, chair of trustees at Oxford United in the Community, stated: “Very disappointed to hear that Grant Ferguson is stepping down as chairman at Oxford United.
“A good man. Intelligent, calm, great with people and a real friend to Oxford United in the Community.
“I sincerely hope his board role lets him continue to play an active and influential role in our club.”
One fan was sceptical about the new arrivals, saying: “Not convinced with the new chairman, some guy who’s been a CEO at a second division Indonesian team and ‘brings bags of experience’.”
Another commented: “As a season ticket holder for years, I have absolutely no idea who actually controls this club. I’m actually worried for our future.”
The Oxford Mail is aiming to find out more on the story and will continue to post updates regarding the new appointments as they come.
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