Oxford United are delighted to announce the signing of experienced defender Frankie Kent.
The 30-year-old joins United with 13 years of league football and more than 400 appearances behind him across Colchester United, Peterborough United, and recently in Scotland with Heart of Midlothian.
A commanding and physical centre-back, Kent brings proven League One pedigree after winning promotion with Peterborough in 2021, while last season he helped Hearts secure a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership.
Speaking about joining United, he said: “This is a very exciting move for me to be joining a Club with a clear ambition for success.
“I’ve had very positive conversations with people at the Club, and I am confident I can use my experience to drive standards, not just on the pitch but off it as well.
“I understand the demands of this league, and I return to England a much better player and leader following three fantastic years in Scotland.
“I’ve come here to help push this Club forward, and I’ll do everything I can every day to help us improve and achieve our ambitions.”
Aaron Ramsey, Head Coach, said: “I had very positive conversations with the Club before arriving about the business we wanted to complete this summer, and I’m delighted we’ve moved quickly to bring in a player of Frankie’s quality and character.
“As a player, Frankie is a dominant, aggressive defender who is comfortable in possession, and his profile fits exactly how we want this team to play.
“As importantly, Frankie embodies the values we want to hold throughout the Football Club. He’s someone who will raise the standards and push to help create the elite environment we strive for.
"As a first signing, it's a real statement for us. We're bringing in someone who can make an immediate impact both on the pitch and within the group."
Ed Waldron, Head of Football Operations, said: "Frankie is a player we've admired for a long time, dating back to his time at Colchester when he regularly came up against Oxford United.
"Scotland is a market we monitor closely and, throughout his time at Hearts, Frankie has consistently been one of the league's standout defenders.
"Our recruitment process combines detailed data analysis with extensive live scouting, and Frankie stood out in every aspect. Equally importantly, our background work highlighted the qualities he brings away from the pitch. He's a strong personality, a natural leader and exactly the type of character we want in the building, so we're delighted to welcome him to Oxford United."
