Oxford United’s recent signing, has mentioned the possibility of being loaned out in the next season.
The club acquired the 20-year-old goalkeeper after being promoted to the Championship. Knightbridge will formally join Oxford United once his contract with West Ham concludes at the end of this month.
According to the official club website, he has hinted at the likelihood of heading out on loan during the upcoming transfer window.
“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.
“I can’t wait, especially with the buzz that you can feel around the place after promotion, and I want to add to that.”
Oxford United’s transfer strategy
Sending Knightbridge out on loan could be a clever decision by Oxford United and would probably benefit all parties concerned.
It is improbable that he will immediately claim the top spot as their first-choice goalkeeper in the Championship, as this appears to be more of a long-term acquisition.
Hence, sending him to a lower-tier football team where he would be assured of regular playing time would be the most beneficial for his progress at this stage.
The goalkeeper has progressed through the youth system at West Ham and has been a consistent presence for the London club across various youth levels.
Although Knightbridge has yet to feature in a competitive match for the West Ham first team, he was loaned out to Harrow Borough in non-league football during the 2022/23 season to enhance his development.
Despite playing 22 competitive games for West Ham’s Under-21 side, the club has opted not to prolong his contract at the London Stadium, paving the way for Oxford United to secure his services without any transfer fee.
What are Oxford United’s future plans?
Oxford United’s focus will be on creating opportunities for Knightbridge to break into their first team in the future.
Simultaneously, they will be aiming to recruit additional players as they prepare for the challenges of competing in League One after their promotion.
They have recently signed midfielder Will Vaulks from Sheffield Wednesday.
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