"Not a glamorous team" - Reaction given as Michal Helik swaps Huddersfield Town for Oxford United | OneFootball

FLW's Huddersfield Town fan pundit has given his reaction to defender Michal Helik's move to Oxford United.

Huddersfield Town defender Michal Helik has left the club to join Championship side Oxford United.

Helik completed his move to Oxford on Friday evening, and according to Football Insider, he has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the Kassam Stadium.

Helik joined Huddersfield from Barnsley in the summer of 2022, and although he was part of the side that suffered relegation from the Championship last season, he enjoyed an impressive campaign on an individual level, scoring nine goals in 42 games.

Many had expected Helik to depart the John Smith's Stadium in the summer, but he remained at the club, and he played a crucial role for Michael Duff's side in League One in the first half of this season, scoring two goals in 21 appearances and captaining the side on a number of occasions.

However, Helik has now made a return to the Championship with Oxford, and his exit is a big blow to Huddersfield, who currently sit fourth in the table, just four points from the automatic promotion places.

Huddersfield Town fan pundit reacts to Michal Helik's Oxford United move

When asked for his thoughts on Helik's departure, FLW'sHuddersfield Town fan pundit Graeme Rayner said that while Oxford are not the biggest club in the Championship, he can understand why the 29-year-old is keen to make the move to the Kassam Stadium.

"I sort of understand Michal Helik's move to Oxford, they seem to have picked up under Gary Rowett and potentially look like they'll stay up," Graeme said.

"He's a Championship quality defender who wants to play in the Championship.

"Oxford, on the face of it, are not a glamorous team, but then neither are Huddersfield.

"Good luck to him, he's served us well and he deserves the right to play at the level that his talents justify.

"Although I would have thought that some clubs higher up the Championship table would have been looking at him, if he's getting a decent deal there, taking care of his family with a decent pay packet, and he's confident he can help them avoid the drop, then why not? Oxford is a nice place.

"What sort of fee would I be happy with? I don't know.

"If we hadn't got relegated last year and he was under contract for a decent length of time, I'd be saying something like £3-4 million.

"But we got relegated last year and he's only under contract for 18 months, so if we get £1 million for him, I'll be happy."

Michal Helik exit is a huge blow for Huddersfield Town

Having conceded just 19 league goals this season, Huddersfield have one of the best defensive records in League One, and Helik has been a big part of that solidity, so there is no doubt he is a huge loss for the Terriers.

However, Town have been in outstanding form in recent months as they close in on the automatic promotion places, so Helik's departure is unlikely to derail their season, and after spending big this week on the signings of Joe Taylor and Dion Charles, owner Kevin Nagle may be keen to balance the books.

While Helik could arguably have secured a more attractive move than Oxford, the U's look likely to stay in the Championship this season under new manager Gary Rowett, and should they survive, they will have ambitions to climb the table over the coming years.