RYAN Williams is back at Oxford United after signing a two-year deal.

The winger rejected a new contract at Sky Bet League One rivals Portsmouth to re-join the U’s, where he spent the 2013/14 season on loan from Fulham.

Williams scored eight goals in 42 games during his first spell with United and went on to gain promotion to the Sky Bet Championship with Barnsley and Rotherham United, before moving to Pompey in 2019.

Now 27, the Australian is confident U's fans will see an upgrade on the player that arrived at the Kassam Stadium eight years ago.

He said: “When I came last time I enjoyed it, but I was very raw and young.

“I’m coming back a lot more experienced, I’m 27 and I believe I’ve got my best years ahead of me.

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“I’m at the peak of my physical ability and I think that’ll carry on.

“I think I’m going to play the best football I’ve played in my career here.

“I’ve put a good few seasons together and I think this is the one I’ll be the best version of myself as a footballer.”

Williams played 85 matches in two seasons for Portsmouth, but was offered reduced terms to stay at Fratton Park with his contract up this summer.

He decided to look elsewhere and revealed he had been aware of United’s interest for several weeks.

Williams added: “It came up before the end of the season, so it was always something I was looking at.

“I’ve got a young family now, so I don’t want to put them through anymore stress.

“If the right thing came up early enough that’s what I wanted to do.

“I wasn’t going to wait around.”

The wide player, who has one cap for Australia, is United’s second summer signing after Marcus McGuane arrived last month.

Karl Robinson revealed last weekend he wanted to sign four wingers during the transfer window as the U’s head coach plots another promotion push.

Keen to improve on his haul of eight goals in two seasons at Pompey, Williams believes he will get plenty of opportunities at United.

“That’s why I want to be at the football club, I want to be the one that keeps the ball from the other team,” he said.

“If you look at the midfielders we’ve got in the squad, they’re all really good attacking players with the ability to slide chances through.

“Hopefully I’ll get more chances, but I can get more chances to the forwards as well.”