Oxford United: Ciaron Brown signs on loan, Oisin Smyth and Marcus Browne make permanent moves

Ciaron Brown has three caps for the Northern Ireland national team

Oxford have signed Ciaron Brown on loan, re-signed former loanee Marcus Browne and brought in Northern Ireland Under-21 midfielder Oisin Smyth.

Defender Brown, 24, joins on loan from Cardiff until the end of the season.

Midfielder Browne, 24, who previously had two loan spells with the U's, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Middlesbrough.

Smyth moves to the Kassam Stadium from Irish League side Dungannon Swifts on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The 21-year-old was the subject of interest from multiple clubs.

Brown is a versatile defender who can play at centre-back and left-back. He has three caps for Northern Ireland.

He told the club's website: "I'm looking forward to it.

"Oxford are doing really well in the league and I spoke to Gavin Whyte and to Curtis Nelson and they had nothing but good things to say about the club and the fans so I am really excited to be part of that."

Marcus Browne helped Oxford United reach the League One play-off final in his second loan spell

Browne's last loan spell saw him help Oxford reach the League One play-off final in the delayed 2019-20 season, including scoring in the first leg of their semi-final against Portsmouth.

"If anything I'm hungrier this time," he told BBC Radio Oxford. "The fans have been special to me and even sent me messages while I was back at Middlesbrough.

"They've been good to me since I first came here and that's not changed and they're one of the reasons I came back."

Browne failed to make any appearances this season for Boro and was limited to just eight last season for the club he joined from West Ham in July 2019.

Smyth was made captain of Dungannon Swifts at the end of last season

Northern Irishman Smyth was made captain of the Swifts at the end of last season and has impressed throughout the current campaign, making his Northern Ireland Under-21 debut against Scotland last June.

He will join former Irish League players Mark Sykes and Cardiff City loanee Gavin Whyte at the Kassam Stadium, with ex-Linfield and Glenavon winger Joel Cooper out on loan at Port Vale.

"He's very much one for the future," Oxford boss Karl Robinson told the club website.

"He is still very raw and will have to make the adjustment to full time football but he's a very impressive young man who clearly wants to come here, learn, and make his mark.

"He's a good footballer and we look forward to working with him and seeing him develop."

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