GOALKEEPER Simon Eastwood has become Oxford United's first signing of the summer.

The 26-year-old has agreed to join the U's on a one-year deal, with the club having an option of a further 12 months.

He will officially become a United player on July 1 having been released by Sky Bet Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

Eastwood returns to the Kassam Stadium having spent a year as understudy to Ryan Clarke in 2010/11 - United's first season back in the Football League.

He still had a year left to run on his contract before he left the U's to join Halifax.

Eastwood then moved on to Portsmouth where he played under head coach Michael Appleton, before going to Blackburn where he spent three seasons but failed to establish himself as No 1.

"I've worked with Michael Appleton before and that was obviously a big factor in me signing," he said.

"I'm coming to a club full of confidence and we will all be hoping to build on the success Oxford United had last season."