CURTIS Nelson’s appearance for Oxford United on Saturday has triggered the final additional payment to Plymouth Argyle.

The centre back, who was made captain this summer following John Lundstram’s departure, made the 60th start of his U’s career in the 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town.

It was the threshold set by a Professional Football Compensation Committee last November after the two clubs failed to agree on a fee.

The Pilgrims were eligible for compensation due to Nelson being under 24 when he turned down a new contract at Home Park in favour of a move to United.

An initial fee of £200,000 was set, plus £80,000 based on appearances – understood to be £20,000 per 15 games.

It was higher than United had hoped to pay when Nelson put pen to paper in July 2016.

After the committee gave the ruling, chairman Darryl Eales called it “a huge amount of money for a club such as ourselves and well above the amount budgeted.”

But it looks money well spent now, with the 24-year-old one of the side’s most consistent players.

Their focus will turn to securing Nelson’s services beyond next summer, when his contract expires.

United are now negotiating fresh terms with the key players who are in the final year of their contracts, with Josh Ruffels the first to sign.

And Nelson believes he can only get better in a squad which contains centre backs John Mousinho and Mike Williamson, who joined this summer.

He said: “I can learn a lot from John, as I do with Mike.

“It’s good to have a lot of experience in the team with guys who have played at a higher level.

“They see things differently to the level I’ve been playing at, so it’s always good to learn.”