Oxford United are set to make 22-year-old midfielder Tyler Goodrham available for a January loan amid rising outside interest, with head coach Gary Rowett reshaping his options for the second half of the Championship season.
Oxford have fought to keep their heads above water after promotion, and squad depth built over the summer has limited opportunities for the academy graduate.
Goodrham has not featured since August, spending recent weeks outside the matchday group as Rowett prioritises recent signings and established senior choices across the front line and No. 10 roles.
Oxford United star Tyler Goodrham is set to be made available on loan in January alerting a number of clubs to his availability. Goodrham has fallen out of favour with Oxford boss Gary Rowett and a host of clubs are weighing up moves for the attacker. #OUFC pic.twitter.com/p01N8Ngn13
— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) November 4, 2025
Rowett’s Selection Squeeze Puts Goodrham on the Move
Competition has intensified in the attacking unit, with players such as Filip Krastev, Luke Harris and Siriki Dembélé rotating around the bench and starting XI.
The emergence of anchoring options like Brian De Keersmaecker has further narrowed pathways into central areas, while wide berths have been contested by pace-led profiles prioritised for off-the-ball work against seasoned Championship full-backs.
That context explains Oxford’s willingness to sanction a temporary switch that guarantees minutes. Internally, the view is that Goodrham’s ceiling remains high: quick feet in tight spaces, a habit of finding cut-backs from half-spaces, and the pressing energy Rowett values.
Goodrham’s stock is still strong after last season’s survival push, where he contributed goals, assists and high-volume defensive sprints. Staff believe his best role sits as an inverted wide option or roaming 8/10 against teams that sit deeper, but Oxford’s recent fixtures have tilted towards transition battles where physical match-ups and territory have dictated selection.
Oxford United boss Gary Rowett has backed Tyler Goodrham to “come again”, gives updates on two injury concerns and two players back in full training. #oufc
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— BBC Oxfordshire (@BBCOxford) October 29, 2025
Best-Fit Destinations — And Why Oxford Benefit Too
A top-half League One move aligns best with both development and demand. Promotion chasers needing a creator between the lines should see immediate value: Goodrham breaks pressing lines on the turn, draws fouls and delivers early low crosses that generate second-phase chances. Clubs with compact 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shapes, where the 10 drifts wide to overload, would maximise his ball-carrying and combination play.
Numbers underscore the case for a move. As of October, club channels list Goodrham on 146 senior Oxford appearances with 19 goals and 14 assists, a volume that belies his age and shows repeatable end-product when trusted to string games together.
With interest already surfacing ahead of the window, Oxford can select a destination that commits to minutes, role clarity and a tactical fit that mirrors how Rowett intends to use him on return.
For now, the plan is straightforward: identify the right landing spot, lock in a pathway to starts, and bring Goodrham back battle-hardened for the final months. If the placement is right, Oxford gain a rejuvenated creator for the stretch, the loanee gains momentum, and the market is reminded why the academy still shapes a meaningful part of the club’s first-team future.
