Oxford united FC
Oxford United player ratings for 2025/26 Championship season
Jamie Cumming – 6
Played every minute in the Championship this season.. His distribution probably is not quite at second-tier level but a save percentage of 70.2 is respectable (13th of 27 goalkeepers in the league).
Will Lankshear – 8
Scoring 12 goals in a struggling side is commendable and he improved game by game, making the striking position his own.
Stan Mills – 8.5
Supporters’ and players’ player of the season, Mills was spectacularly consistent in a yellow shirt. Was a constant threat under Matt Bloomfield and one of the first names on the team sheet.
Michal Helik – 6.5
The Yellows vice captain started the season strongly with a high number of defensive contributions. He lost his spot in the season earlier in the calendar year to Christ Makosso but regained it and tied it down as United went on a good run of results.
Sam Long – 7.5
The man who keeps proving people wrong. Became a crucial part of the defence yet again when some thought his time at this level might have been up.
Will Vaulks – 6
In and out of the team this year, the experienced midfielder is less mobile but a stable presence in the centre of the park.
Cameron Brannagan – 7.5
The skipper remains a talisman for Oxford and has scored a few of his trademark screamers, his passing and long-range efforts key when the U’s perform well.
Mark Harris – 5.5
Careful not to go too harsh here as Harris can be a nuisance for defenders, but he is just not a goal scorer at Championship level.
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Ciaron Brown – 6.5
Has drawn some critics this year but when he plays well, United play well. A Brown and Helik partnership in League One would be very strong.
Jack Currie – 8
A strong Championship defender who offers balance and will likely generate interest this summer.
Brodie Spencer – 6.5
Brilliant defensively but room to improve on the ball. Only 22 years old and a good asset.
Brian De Keersmaecker – 7.5
A very gifted footballer and probably the U’s best in the first half of the season. Campaign ended prematurely through decision to have surgery.
Przemyslaw Placheta – 5.5
Curtailed by injury and inconsistency but had some memorable moments with last-gasp strikes against Millwall and Ipswich Town.
Nik Prelec – 5
Just the one goal but showed signs in a season also hampered by injury.
Siriki Dembele – 3
Ineffective off the bench in the first half of the campaign and frozen out in the second.
Ole Romeny – 4
Not at Championship level. Interesting to see how he possibly fares in the third tier with it still hard to judge his true level.
Greg Leigh – 4.5
Feels weird rating Leigh as he is still contracted but we have not seen him play for half a season.
He did not have a great first half of the campaign under Rowett (who did?) and then was a victim of a big squad and not registered for the second. Remains to be seen whether he will be used next year.
Tyler Goodrham – 6
Weird season for the academy lad who dropped out of the frame for a bit under Rowett.
He then popped back up and reminded everyone of his ability at attacking midfield under caretaker boss Craig Short before suffering a season-ending injury.
Will be great to see him back in action soon.
Hidde ter Avest – 5
Ravaged with injuries and never got past Sam Long and Brodie Spencer in the pecking order.
Ben Davies – 6
Solid when called upon but only really played when United operated with a back five, which they moved away from under Bloomfield. He then did not from early February onwards.
Matt Phillips – 4.5
Past Championship level at 35 years old and had his contract mutually terminated on deadline day in January.
Tom Bradshaw – 3.5
Featured a few times off the bench under Rowett but another who was not up to Championship standard. Left for Barnsley on loan in January and has since left the club.
Louie Sibley – 3.5
Made five substitute appearances under Rowett before heading out on loan to Bradford City in January where he has not played since February.
Ruben Roosken – 4
An interesting case. Signed in January from Huddersfield Town with an obligation to buy, which has been triggered, he has played four times but not made the squad on 11 occasions.
Will be interesting to see how much he features next term.
*Must have made four or more appearances to be rated (Elliott Moore not included). List ordered by appearances.
*Not including summer loans who departed in January. Not including January signings (separate article to come).
Upon the expiry of their contracts this summer, Holly Turner, Lucy Trinder, Maddison Millington-Stanbury and Maya Kendell will all depart the U’s.
19-year-old Trinder leaves after graduating from the Yellows academy and heads to the United States to pursue college football.
She played 26 times this campaign and scored against Exeter City in a 2-1 win.
Arsenal academy product Millington-Stanbury after a year at the club, made only one appearance this season against Chelsea in the Women’s National League Cup.
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After joining in January from Watford, Kendell leaves having played 10 times.
Turner departs United having scored twice in 12 matches.
She joined from Nottingham Forest last summer and picked up a knee injury back in October.
The U’s Women finished fourth in the Women’s National League Premier Division this season, seven points behind third-placed AFC Bournemouth.
Watford won the league by one point, Plymouth Argyle coming in a close second.
Manager Liam Gilbert, who took over from Sam Rose in November, said: “I’d like to thank every player for their commitment and support throughout the season.
“Their hard work, professionalism and positive attitude have been instrumental in delivering a strong finish to the campaign and have laid foundations that will benefit the club for seasons to come.
“While it’s always difficult to say goodbye, we wish each of them every success on their future journeys.”
The centre back has been at United since January 2025 and helped the club to safety in the second tier last season under Gary Rowett.
Oxford were unfortunately relegated this season, with the Pole playing 41 times and scoring once for Matt Bloomfield’s side.
According to sources in Poland, Helik has a buyout clause of €750,000 (£650,000) in his contract with Championship and Polish league clubs monitoring his situation this summer.
Helik joined the U’s from League One side Huddersfield Town and was in Yorkshire prior to that as well with Barnsley.
The 30-year-old has been in England for six years in total since joining the Tykes from Polish outfit Cracovia in 2020.
Several clubs in the Polish Ekstraklasa are reportedly interested in the seven-time Poland international.
According Goal.pl, Championship rivals Derby County were keen on Helik in January of this year but the Yellows wanted to keep the towering defender.
In his 18 months in OX4, the former Terriers man has played 65 times, scoring 6 goals and assisting four.
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Helik has played most of his career in the Championship with his three English clubs with 221 appearances in the competition.
In League One, the Pole would be a strong option but, at 30 years of age, may want one last stint in the second tier.
The drop into the third tier with Oxford is Helik’s third relegation in English football having been demoted from the Championship with both Barnsley and Huddersfield prior to this season with the Yellows.
He was a key part of United’s survival in 2024/25, however, scoring five goals in 20 appearances since his January addition as his side stayed up under Rowett.
Helik won the Polish Cup in 2020 with former club Cracovia.
Upon joining Oxford in early 2025, the U’s number six said: “I am joining this club because I can see the ambition. This is the right place for me because there is a drive to improve and that matches my ambition.
“I am experienced but also very hungry to learn and improve every day. I am ready to fight for this badge and I want to achieve our goals together. I am still improving, the best is yet to come from me.”
Oxford recently announced their retained list, confirming that 10 players would depart the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.
Head coach Bloomfield confirmed that there would not be an overhaul of the squad this summer as the club prepares for a return to League One.
Rotherham have been relegated from League One, where the U’s will compete next season, following a poor campaign in which they finished 23rd in the table.
The Millers have reportedly offered McClaren the role of technical director as they look to bounce back in League Two next season.
The ex-Oxford youth and reserve team coach was most recently manager of the Jamaican national team but resigned 16 months into the role after failing to win automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His most recent job in English football was as an assistant to Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
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The 65-year-old is still apparently keen to return to the game but there is not agreement in place yet with Rotherham.
McClaren was recently a guest of honour at Oxford’s End of Season awards.
Enjoying a 13-year career, the former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest boss ended his playing days with the Yellows, spending three years in Oxford before injuries forced him to retire in 1992.
A move to Rotherham would see McClaren return home to Yorkshire in a role with a wide-ranging scope for him to enjoy in the latter stages of his career.
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