Oxford United sign forward Siriki Dembele from Birmingham City

Oxford United have signed 27-year-old forward, Siriki Dembele on a permanent deal from Birmingham City.

The Ivory Coast-born forward started his professional career with Grimsby Town before spending four successful seasons with Peterborough United.

He then spent two seasons at Bournemouth in the Championship and Premier League, with spells also at Auxerre in Ligue 1 in France and more recently Birmingham City.

Dembele made 37 appearances for Birmingham in the 2023 season, scoring six goals, but he was unable to prevent the Blues from being relegated from the Championship to the Sky Bet League One.

The U’s finished fifth in the EFL League One last season but were promoted to the Championship after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 to win the Promotion Play Off Final.

The Des Buckingham managed Oxford Utd side will include Dembele in their squad for Saturday’s home clash with Preston North End. 

United’s squad for the 2024/25 season also includes Swords native Peter Kioso who has dual Irish and Congolese citizenship and who plays at right back for the team.

Speaking after signing for United, Dembele said: “I’m so glad, Oxford are back in the Championship now and the club is looking to go somewhere and I’m excited to be here.

“Haven spoken to Des, the ideas he has to take the club somewhere are what excited me to come here.

“I have played against Oxford a few times and it looks like an exciting time for the team, so that’s why I have signed and now I want to do something big with the club.”

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