Oxford United Close in on Highly-Rated Tottenham Starlet

Tottenham Wonderkid Closing in on EFL Switch

Oxford United are closing in on a move for highly-rated Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Donley this January after the 20-year-old was recalled from his loan with Stoke City.

The Northern Ireland striker made just six appearances in all competitions on loan for The Potters over the back end of 2025, prompting his recall in Tottenham's bid to provide him with regular gametime elsewhere.

According to Football League World, managerless Oxford United are set to be that club to offer him a chance with The U's looking to get away from the business end of the Championship table.

Sign Jamie Donley on loan from Tottenham and this team will make the playoffs. 18 goal contributions in 39 games for Leyton Orient last season. #ReadingFC 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/vabLlcuggG

— The Ding Archive (@dingarchive) January 1, 2026

Donley Set for Fresh Loan with Oxford United Circling

Donley wasn't quite able to get the ball rolling at the Bet365 Stadium this term, with the successful Leyton Orient former loanee being limited to just 77 minutes of Championship football as Mark Robins rarely made use of his talents. He made a further two appearances in the Carabao Cup, and failed to make a single second-tier start.

Your player of the season…

Jamie Donley. What a season! 🙌#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/Sb2XhiJo04

— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) May 5, 2025

Donley would be the next in a small lineage to make the temporary move down to Oxford from Tottenham, with Will Lankshear currently plying his temporary trade there after Dane Scarlett had spent time there as well, maintaining a solid relationship between the two sides.

Donley to Offer Oxford Goals and Spark

Oxford United's attack so far this season has lacked something of a cutting edge, with the U's sat in the relegation zone of the EFL championship. Donley will be able to provide something they need, he himself being a creative player with a versatile skillset that could add a necessary jolt to Oxford's options amidst their fight with the drop.

He'll need to hit the ground running at the Kassam Stadium - Oxford United have scored just 25 goals all season and are three points adrift from safety, so they will be after an immediate impact from their new man. If the Northern Irishman can repeat some of the form he showed with Leyton Orient last term, however, they should be well for it.

ℹ️ Jamie Donley has been recalled from his loan at Stoke City.

Jamie departs the Potters having made six appearances in all competitions – four league and two Carabao Cup. pic.twitter.com/cy5ff6hxCC

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 1, 2026

The talented midfielder scored eight goals and laid on a further 10 in assists for Orient last season, in what was a solic breakthrough term for the Tottenham talents in senior first-team football.

The going gets no easier for Oxford, of course - they head to Bramall Lane in their next Championship bout, representing a tough fixture with a side re-finding their form under Chris Wilder.