United have completed the signing of midfielder Simon Clist from Forest Green Rovers for a nominal fee.

27 year old Simon started out at Bristol City and made 87 appearances for the Ashton Gate side before a short loan spell at Torquay United. A permanent move to Barnet followed, where he made 67 starts, but he will also be familiar to many United fans as a key midfielder for Forest Green over the last three seasons, making over 100 starts.

The five foot nine central midfielder has agreed a two and a half year deal with the U's and stands by for his debut at Kettering on Saturday.

Manager Chris Wilder told us:

"Simon is a player I have admired for a long time. He is a left footed central midfielder who creates things and passes the ball well. He has been involved with a team that got out of this league, is local to Oxford, and he covers us in a couple of other positions as well. I know a lot about him, have seen him dominate games at this level and I think he is a great signing for the football club."

Chairman Kelvin Thomas added:

"We have always said to Chris that we would support him as much as possible but that he would be working within the current budget, which he has done to great effect with the players going out.

"We genuinely feel that the players who have come in to the club during the January window have significantly boosted the team and Simon will improve us still further

"Now that the window has closed we are also pleased to confirm that James Constable will be with us until the end of the season and that talks have begun with Shrewsbury Town to try to extend James's deal with us. In all likelihood that will not be finalised until the summer but we can assure the supporters that we will continue to work towards bringing in the best players available to this club.

"Now we will be channelling all of our efforts into building on our fine current form. We, like everyone else, are excited by the players who have come in, the way the team is performing, and the prospects for the future."