Peter Kioso opens up on Oxford United return under Ramsey

The 26-year-old last played competitively for the U’s in April 2025, appearing for 45 minutes in a 1-1 Championship draw with Cardiff City.

Kioso has played in all three friendlies so far this summer as Aaron Ramsey gives the Yellows squad a clean slate amid a temporary transfer embargo.

Oxford beat League Two side Crawley Town 3-1 on Tuesday night at the Kassam Stadium in their third pre-season fixture after previous victories against Aldershot Town and Barnet and will face Premier League opposition in Ipswich Town in their final friendly on Saturday.

“I’ve been up and down everywhere, but yeah, I’m just happy to be back,” Kioso, who spent last season on loan in League One with Peterborough United, said after the Crawley win.

“I’m happy to be back on an Oxford United shirt.

“I feel like that’s why you always have to just keep your head down, keep working.

“Luckily for me, I’ve come to a club, even when I signed two years ago, that is a good club with good players and good characters and things like that.

“It made it easy for me, even coming back, it was as if I never left.”

Kioso has struggled to cement a solid position in the United squad since joining from Rotherham United in 2024, but has a real opportunity to make a name for himself under new head coach Ramsey.

“I remember the gaffer coming in and saying, just listen, everyone has a chance again to prove to him that they’re capable of playing.

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Peter Kioso in action against Bristol City (Image: Mike Allen)

“You can tell that everyone is trying to give him a headache in terms of the game.

“It’s going to be tough [but]…that’s a good thing, I think when the manager has a tough decision to start with.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo international was one of a number of names considered fringe players ahead of the summer, but of whom now have the chance to stake their claim for a spot after the transfer embargo.

“I always say that no matter what happens before, I was loaned out and things like that, but at the end of the day, I’m not going to take that on the boys,” Kioso continued.

“They’re my team-mates and I have a good relationship with all of them.

“So, once I cross that white line, it’s about giving 100 per cent, not just for me, it’s for them as well.”