OXFORD United have completed the permanent signing of former Everton trainee John Lundstram.

The 21-year-old midfielder passed a medical at the club’s training ground this morning, before signing a contract for the next two seasons, plus an option for the 2017-18 campaign.

Lundstram was a free agent after being released from Goodison Park this summer, but despite never appearing for Everton’s first team, he has accumulated 68 senior appearances, scoring twice, in a succession of loan spells during the last three years.

He said: “It’s a really good opportunity for me to come and show what I can do.

“I’m coming to a really good side that’s one of the favourites to win the league and hopefully I can come in and add to that.”

U’s boss Michael Appleton is delighted to bring in a player he feels will bring a physical presence in midfield which the squad have missed since Andy Whing was released at the end of last season.

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  • John Lundstram in his first training session with Oxford United

He said: “There’s loads of good young midfield players out there, but the thing I like about John is he can do the Whing role if we need to do it.

“The closest we’ve got at the minute is Josh Ruffels, but that’s dong him a disservice because he’s got more to his game.

“He gives us that option where you need that balance in midfield.

“We’ll go places, for example Wimbledon, when you look at the signings they’ve made and who they have up top you know exactly how they’re going to play.

“There will be games where he will be needed to play that role.”

Despite completing the move, it may be a couple of weeks before Lundstram makes his debut.

He is short of match fitness due to damaging ankle ligaments at the end of last season, so United are looking into arranging a behind-closed-doors game to help get him up to speed.