OXFORD United have signed forward Gino van Kessel on loan from Slavia Prague.

The 24-year-old joins on a season-long deal, with the Czech club revealing a fee of €900,000 (approximately £810,000) has been agreed if United want to make the move permanent next summer.

Van Kessel, who can play on either flank or as a central striker, trained with his new teammates this morning, although he will not be considered to play against Portsmouth on Saturday.

He said: "I was on loan for the last six months and we’ve been trying to figure out the loan to come to Oxford.

"In the end everything worked out.

"I’m an attacking player - I’m fast so hopefully they will see it and hopefully I can scare some defenders around here."

Van Kessel has been on United’s radar for several weeks and was known to manager Pep Clotet last summer, when Leeds United were interested in signing him.

The U's boss said: "At the time (at Leeds) it was not right, but as soon as we had the need for a versatile player who can play in all three positions in offence I put the name forward.

"I’ve let the recruitment staff analyse him and look at his career.

"We have watched a lot of his games on video and saw his performances for the national team in July and agreed he has the physical capabilities to help us.

"He’s very quick and strong."

Born in the Netherlands, he came through the youth ranks at AZ Alkmaar and Ajax.

Van Kessel left his homeland in 2013 and has since had a varied career elsewhere in Europe.

After a spell in the French second division with Arles-Avignon, his most productive stint came in Slovakia with Trenčín, where he had earlier spent time on loan.

He helped them to two successive league and cup doubles and in the latter campaign, 2015/16, van Kessel finished as the Fortuna Liga’s top scorer, with 17 goals from 33 appearances.

He was bought by Slavia Prague in a deal worth just over £1m last summer, but played just seven games for them and was loaned out to Lechia Gdansk in Poland.

Van Kessel has been capped at senior level by Curacao, scoring seven goals in 17 appearances.