Exclusive: Former Oxford United captain Elliott Moore set for Des Buckingham reunion

Elliott Moore is on the verge of a reunion with former boss Des Buckingham in Saudi Arabia, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Oxford United club captain, 28, terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent on transfer deadline day. 

Buckingham and Moore were the manager and captain combo which saw the U’s reach the Championship via the League One play-offs in 2024.

The 40-year-old manager took the reigns at Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood earlier this summer and has been in talks with his former right-hand man to make the move.

Blackburn, who are short on centre-back options, have also contacted the player since he became a surprise free agent last week.

But sources close to the player say he is set for a stint abroad and is finalising logistics ahead of the move.

Part of Oxford’s Success Story

A loyal servant to the club, Moore surprisingly ended his six-year stay at the Kassam Stadium on deadline day.

The defender came through the ranks at Leicester City, but never made a senior appearance for the club. 

After two seasons on loan at OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League, a club also owned by Foxes’ owners King Power, Moore made the move to Oxford in 2019. 

His first season at the Kassam saw the U’s agonisingly miss out on promotion in the play-offs and he was given the captain’s armband in 2020.

More play-off heartache followed in the 2020/21 campaign and the U’s painfully finished eighth the following season. 

The near misses were ended in 2024 when Oxford finally banished their play-off misery as they secured promotion to the Championship. 

Moore, who made over 200 league appearances for the club, featured 27 times as the club earned a respectable 19th-placed finish last term. 

The defender started just two of the club’s opening four league outings this season and agreed to part ways with the club.