Oxford City announce trio as first summer signings

Oxford City have announced a trio of signings as their first summer additions ahead of the new season.

The Hoops confirmed  Guyana international goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle, left-back Chi Ezennolim and defender Jalen Jones will join Sam Cox’s side for next season.

McKenzie-Lyle, a former Liverpool and Barnet shot-stopper, spent last season with step three side Folkestone Invicta.

He made one senior appearance for Barnet before joining Liverpool after a successful trial period and represented the Reds at U23 level.

Since then, he has been called up to the Guyana national team after the country’s football federation was alerted to his eligibility by a researcher from the game Football Manager.

He made his debut for Guyana versus Suriname in 2016 and even scored in a 3-2 defeat against Suriname.

Speaking to the club, he said: “It’s amazing to get the deal done.

“After coming to the club for the first time, I think it’s a really good set-up and there’s some really good people.

“I’m looking forward to playing in this division. It’s been a long summer and I’m excited to getting back playing."

Ezennolim joins after spells in National League South with both Welling United & Maidstone United.

Last season, he played a pivotal role in the Maidstone side that went on a stunning FA Cup run and became to lowest-ranked team to reach the last 16 of the competition since 1978.

He spent the previous two seasons at Welling United alongside Cox, winning the Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards.

Ezennolim said: “I feel excited. I can’t wait to start.

“Oxford is a big community and playing here will be a great platform for me to express myself. I feel like it will be a great place for young players to come and develop.

“When I was with Coxy (Sam Cox) at Welling, it was like a breath of fresh air having a coach that really wants you to do well.

Oxford City manager Cox added: “Chi is a fantastic talent and a fantastic human being. You’ll see that through the signings we make and the team we put out on the pitch, I need good people round me and Chi epitomises that.

“He wants to work hard and he wants to kick on in his career. He had a successful period at Maidstone last season especially in their FA Cup run.

“What I love about the boy is that he has a fantastic nature, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he delivers and how he kicks on during pre-season.”

An international teammate of Manager Sam Cox with Guyana, Jones came through Crystal Palace’s prestigious academy before playing for Worthing, Braintree, Cray Wanderers and Aveley.

Jones said: “I’m looking to help get the club back to the National League.

“I know Sam as a player and as a coach. What he brings to the national team is what I enjoy, especially the style of play.

“I have a big presence and I like to use that, not only in the defensive side of things but also in the attacking box as well.”

Cox added: “Jalen is a fantastic signing for us.

“He has a fantastic physical profile, has a lovely nature about him and he’s aggressive out of possession and competent on the ball to deal with the demands I want in possession.

“He’s going to be a major part of everything we do going forward and hopefully he’ll be a major success here.”