Oxford United 2024/25
In: Jacob Knightbridge (West Ham United), Will Vaulks (Sheffield Wednesday), Louie Sibley (Derby County), Jack Currie (AFC Wimbledon), Idris El Mizouni (Ipswich Town), Przemysław Płacheta (Swansea City), Matt Ingram (Hull City), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion), Marselino Ferdinan (Deinze), Hidde ter Avest (FC Utrecht), Siriki Dembélé (Birmingham City)
Loans: Malcolm Ebiowei (Crystal Palace), Dane Scarlett (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Nelson (Leicester City)
Absolutely the most comparable team by far for us, and one that stayed up in their two seasons. Is there a pattern here? Aside from the obvious domestic signings, which every team makes, Oxford also went to Belgium and the Netherlands. Ferdinan from Deinze in Belgium appeared twice, while ter Avest from the Eredivisie appeared 22 times, starting ten matches.
Of their signings, Will Vaulks was one of their most consistent performers, but also a mention to Przemysław Płacheta, a player with Championship experience, who appeared 33 times. El Mizouni and Phillips also put in healthy appearance numbers, both players who were in League One a season later.
Of the loans, Dane Scarlett did okay, scoring four in 22, but Ebiowei only played six matches, while Ben Nelson was getting Championship practice in from Leicester. He played a few matches, played more this season for the Foxes and will play in League One next season.
Charlton Athletic 2025/26
In: Sonny Carey (Blackpool), Thomas Kaminski (Luton Town), Tanto Olaofe (Stockport County), Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Reece Burke (Luton Town), Joe Rankin-Costello (Blackburn Rovers), Rob Apter (Blackpool), Charlie Kelman (Queens Park Rangers), Harvey Knibbs (Reading)
Loan: James Bree (Southampton)
All English signings for Charlton, nothing to see here! Kaminski and Carey did play 40+ matches, Bell was a decent squad player, but Kelman and Knibbs started fewer than 20. It was solid enough, but very few of their summer signings had a significant impact. Players such as Lloyd Jones, Tyreece Campbell, Conor Coventry, Greg Docherty, Miles Leaburn and Macaulay Gillesphey made the most appearances, and they were all with the club already.
There were a couple of interesting signings in January. Jérôme Roussillon joined on a short-term deal from Union Berlin, but left without making an appearance, while Collins Sichenje, a Kenyan international, joined from Serbian side Vojvodina and made six appearances after forcing his way into contention throughout April.
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