Oxford United have completed a deal which sees defender Johnny Mullins return to the club from Rotherham United. The 27-year-old defender has signed a three-year contract at the club, with whom he spent a period on loan last season.

Former Stockport County centre-back Mullins made 8 appearances for United in the first half of the 2012/13 season, scoring twice. His spell at the club included the 3-1 victory at Wycombe Wanderers – a performance that many would consider the side’s best last season – when Mullins headed home in front of the Oxford fans in the away stand.

Mullins made 37 league two appearances for both clubs last season and joins the Us for an undisclosed fee. He will now be reunited with Jake Wright at the heart of what has the potential to be a formidable defensive line.

Strong in the air, a good communicator and – as his 4 goals in the Millers’ promotion run-in show – a threat in the opposition area, United fans will be well aware of the qualities Mullins can bring to the side.

Having captained Rotherham to promotion after returning to the club, a return to Grenoble Road initially seemed unlikely, but the clubs were able to agree a deal to return Mullins closer to home.

The defender was delighted to be back at Oxford, saying: “I had a great time when I was here last year, so I’m looking forward to pulling on the yellow shirt again. Having fought so hard to get Rotherham up last season, I wasn’t planning on playing in League 2 again. However, I believe that this time next year Oxford will be a League 1 side anyway and I’m looking forward hugely to helping make that happen and then moving onwards and upwards with the club from there.

“I enjoy the style of football that Oxford play and the kind of club this is. Even compared to last season, the club has made tremendous strides behind the scenes and everything here is geared towards promotion.”

Manager Chris Wilder was equally pleased to see a key transfer target arrive: “I’m delighted to have been able to bring Johnny back to the club. It has meant being a little patient, but I hope that our fans can now see what I was waiting for: he is a top-quality defender and is the final piece in our jigsaw. He has had a good pre-season with Rotherham so can come in and hit the ground running. Everyone here knows Johnny and knows what he is about, so I can’t see any problems with him fitting straight in.”

Mullins will join up with his team-mates ahead of Tuesday’s game against Oxford City, days after the Us drew 1-1 at a unrecognisably green home surface. Oxford, wearing the new home kit with the ‘Animalates’ sponsorship brand on the front went ahead through Deane Smalley’s third goal of pre-season, before Adam McGurk levelled for the visitors, who included Matt Green and Liam Davis in their squad.