Colchester United's former defender Frankie Kent has signed for Oxford United. The 30-year-old joined the League One side on a free transfer after leaving Scottish Premiership club Hearts.

What happened?

Kent played nearly 150 times for Colchester after coming through their academy. He made his professional debut for the U's as an 18-year-old in 2014.

Why it matters for Colchester

The defender's departure is a significant loss for Colchester, who are currently 12th in League Two with 66 points from 46 games. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League standing | 12th | | Points | 66 | | Recent form | WLLWW | Kent told the Oxford United website: “This is a very exciting move for me to be joining a club with a clear ambition for success.”

What comes next?

Oxford head coach Aaron Ramsey 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 of June 28, 2026, Colchester United is preparing for the next season, with a recent 2-game winning run and a goal difference of +13 from 62 scored and 49 conceded.