Monday 2 September 2019 06:22, UK
Oxford United have completed the signing of former Northampton defender Kash Siddiqi, who joins the club as a player and an ambassador.
Siddiqi, who plays primarily as a right-back, joins Oxford as a free agent and has penned an initial one-year deal.
London-born Siddiqi completed his YTS (Youth Training Scheme) at Boston United and played in America and Dubai before spending a season with League Two Northampton.
Injuries have restricted him to relatively few appearances in recent years, and Siddiqi is grateful to Oxford for giving him the chance to rebuild his career.
"It's a really exciting time for me, having been out of football for a long time and having a lot of injuries," he told Sky Sports News.
"Oxford have got behind me and given me the opportunity to get back into the professional game. The last couple of years have been really, really difficult for me, mentally, physically, spiritually, all of it.
"It's been injury after injury and I think I have only played about 12 games in the last couple of years, so this opportunity for me is amazing."
Siddiqi set up his own foundation in 2011 to help young people - particularly those from under-represented communities -live healthy lifestyles, while also helping them to excel at football.
He is also the international co-founder of Football for Peace, a youth sports movement that uses football as a force for good, raising awareness of the planets most pressing issues by combining community-based activity with diplomatic impact.
Oxford director Zaki Nuseibeh said: "Kash is an inspiring individual and an example of how players can make big differences in the community. He really wants to make a real difference to people's lives.
"Not just him; everyone who has supported Kash's vision believes passionately that football can do great things to spread harmony and diplomacy around the world and we are proud to have Oxford United team up with him.
"Neutrality and dialogue are the two key messages and we are pleased to be working with Kash in joining the club and are keen to see how we can bring Football for Peace and the Kash Siddiqi Foundation to Oxford."
Thought the transfer window was closed? Wrong. Across Europe, plenty of deals are still being done, with Premier League players still able to move to the continent.
The transfer window for Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1 closes at varying times on Monday, September 2. Meanwhile, League One, League Two and Scottish clubs can also do deals until September 2.
Follow our Transfer Centre blog for all the latest news and rumours from the window...
