EFL club blocked from signing new players just two weeks after hiring manager

Oxford United have been placed under a temporary transfer embargo just weeks before their domestic season gets underway.

The punishment is in relation to the League One Salary Cost Management Protocol.

Getty

It states that teams need to show they are able to fund planned player expenditure at the start of the campaign.

However, Oxford are yet to provide all of the required funding, which means they have been banned from signing new players until the issue is resolved.

The news comes as a blow to new head coach Aaron Ramsey.

Ramsey succeeded Matt Bloomfield at the Kassam Stadium helm last month in his first permanent managerial role.

Bloomfield departed having failed to guide Oxford to safety as the Us finished 22nd, five points off safety, in England’s second tier last term.

Have Oxford signed anyone?

Oxford did manage to complete one deal before they were placed under a transfer embargo.

Centre-back Frankie Kent has joined from Scottish Premiership side Hearts after he left the Jam Tarts at the end of the season.

Kent was part of the Hearts side that fell to a late-season collapse that cost the Edinburgh-side the title.

The League One outfit have been linked with a host of free agents this summer, including ex-Cheltenham winger Jordan Thomas and former Peterborough midfielder Archie Collins.

PA

Until their off-field issues are rectified, however, Ramsey will have to make do with the players at his disposal.

Oxford get their domestic campaign underway in a month’s time when they face Leyton Orient in the first round of the EFL Cup.

And they kick off the 2026/27 League One season with the welcome of MK Dons.

Ramsey then takes his squad to Stevenage before a trip to Huddersfield to kick off September.