Goalkeeper, Jacob Knightbridge has joined Oxford United from West Ham on a free transfer.
Knightbridge leaves the Hammers having kept five clean sheets in 20 appearances for the Under-21s team last season, and his move to the Us will be made official on 1 July 2024 upon expiry of his contract at West Ham.
The 20 year-old goalkeeper however iterated that he doesn’t expect to walk straight into the matchday squad due to his inexperience at senior level, and has refused to rule out a loan move this season.
“It’s an opportunity to come to a Championship club where hopefully whether it’s this year or next year I can play for Oxford and cement my career in football.
“As a young player you want to come to a club that has an ambition and I’m happy to be part of that now.
“The idea is to come here and eventually play for this football club, whether that’s staying and trying to do that this season or going out on loan. But the end goal is to become number one at Oxford and I hope to achieve that.”
Knightbridge however “cant wait” to get the season underway at the newly-promoted club who beat Bolton in last season’s League One Play-Offs.
Oxford Utd’s Head Coach, Des Buckingham added that he considers Knightbridge to be “a very promising goalkeeper” for the future, who can excel under their goalkeeping coaches.
“We have a very strong goalkeeping department which is led by Lewis Price, and we believe we can help take Jacob’s game to a new level so that he can challenge to play for Oxford United in the future.”
Oxford Utd’s Head of Recruitment, Ed Waldron praised West Ham for developing “a very exciting player” in Knightbridge, who he believes “has learned from some outstanding and experienced goalkeepers.”
Waldron echoed Knightbridge’s sentiment about needing time to push for the no.1 shirt at the club.
“We have seen clear talent in Jacob and we hope we can provide a home for him at Oxford United, where over his time at the club he can develop into a first-team regular.”
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