OXFORD United have signed Xemi, a midfielder fresh from helping Barcelona B to promotion.

The 22-year-old, whose full name is Josep Miquel Fernández Codina, met his new teammates for the first time today after agreeing a three-year contract.

It is a deal which has arisen due to new United manager Pep Clotet, who has extensive contacts in Catalonia.

Xemi said: “I’m really happy.

“It’s a really big move personally because I’m from Barcelona and I’ve always lived at home.

“I’m a midfielder that can go box-to-box.

“I like having the ball. I’m able to work really hard, but I think I can give things with the ball to the team.”

Xemi has made almost 100 appearances in four seasons playing in Segunda B, the third tier of Spanish football.

He began at UE Cornella, where Clotet began his coaching career in 2001, before moving to Barcelona B in 2015.

The midfielder played 34 games, scoring twice, to help the Catalan giants’ second string win promotion via the play-offs, which finished less than a month ago.

He said: “It’s not been long since I played the last game, so I’m feeling OK.

“I haven’t stopped in the holidays.

“We’ll see when I get back to the pitch, but now I’m feeling really good.”

United must wait to receive international clearance, which may not come in time for him to feature in tomorrow night's pre-season friendly at home to Brentford.