����ý

Oxford United have signed Blackpool winger Owen Dale on a permanent basis and Jay Matete on loan from Sunderland.

Dale, 25, has played 32 times this season but has started just one League One game in the past two months.

Midfielder Matete, 22, joined the Black Cats from Fleetwood Town two years ago and spent the second half of last term on loan at Plymouth.

Dale joins the U's for an undisclosed fee while Matete will stay for the rest of the season.

"We have had a really good window, and this now covers all bases," U's head of recruitment Ed Waldron

"We have signed Jamie Cumming, Joe Bennett, Jay Matete, Kyle Edwards, Tyler Burey, Owen Dale and Will Goodwin."

Matete will bring promotion know-how to the U's, having gone up twice in as many seasons with Sunderland and Argyle.

Dale played 50 games on loan at Portsmouth last season and watched Oxford draw 2-2 against the leaders on Tuesday.

"He is an exciting player - we feel he still has plenty of potential," U's boss Des Buckingham

Dale, who has played mainly at wing-back this season, joined Blackpool from Crewe in 2022, having played more than 100 games across five seasons for the Alex.

Oxford have not disclosed the length of his contract.