[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed defender Alex Pearce on a free transfer.

The 33-year-old was a free agent after being released by Championship side Millwall, where his contract expires this summer.

Pearce began his career at Reading and went on to make 239 first-team appearances for the Royals before moving to Derby County and then, in 2019, to Millwall.

This season the centre-back featured nine times for the Lions.

Pearce said: "It's a family club and I think that's going to be vital - that we all pull in the same direction.

"We need to all come together as a unit - as fans, players and staff, everyone together."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon captain Alex Woodyard has signed a new two-year contract.

The 29-year-old midfielder has played 85 times in two seasons for the Dons after joining from Peterborough United.

He was the Players' Player of the Year last season as the club were relegated from League One.

"As a footballer, I think you've got to weigh up different options, but ultimately my heart was always set on playing for Wimbledon long-term," Woodyard told the club website.

"I feel it was important for me to get another two years to put right the wrongs of last year.

"I can't wait to get going. I've spoken to the new gaffer [Johnnie Jackson] briefly. It was a general chat about what he's going to bring to the club and what his ambitions are.

"He's obviously a good, young manager who did very well at Charlton. I'm excited to work with him and hopefully he can improve me as a player."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed Wales international Chris Gunter on a one-year deal following his exit from Charlton Athletic this summer.

Gunter, 32, became the first men's player to reach 100 caps for Wales last year and is their most capped player, having played 109 games.

The defender joined the Addicks in October 2020.

Gunter began his career with boyhood club Cardiff City before joining Tottenham in 2007.

He made 429 appearances in the Championship for Nottingham Forest and Reading, the latter during an eight-year spell.

"Once the manager called me it made sense for me to come here," Gunter said.

"I'm excited about it and everything works for me to be here. I'm really thankful that he called. I know what the aim is for us this season and hopefully we can achieve it."

Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson added: "I'm delighted to have brought in someone of Chris's calibre. His character is really important as well.

"We've brought in an experienced international who will be a big help on and off the football pitch with the way that he conducts himself and trains every day.

"He's a versatile player that can play in a number of positions across the backline."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed striker Kyle Hudlin on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town.

The 22-year-old joined the Terriers on a two-year deal this week having most recently played for National League side Solihull Moors.

Hudlin scored 15 goals in 62 games for Solihull, including in the play-off final defeat by Grimsby Town in June.

"It's a great opportunity to showcase my talent in league football," Hudlin said.

"I want to help Wimbledon to kick on and get back into League One - which is where we need to be."

[themaclad]

Josh Davison
Josh Davison's goals helped Swindon reach the League Two play-offs last season
AFC Wimbledon have signed Charlton Athletic forward Josh Davison on a three-year deal and midfielder Paris Maghoma on loan from Brentford.

Davison, 22, links up with former manager Johnnie Jackson at Plough Lane and has signed for an undisclosed fee.

He scored six goals in 35 Charlton appearances and also had loan spells at Woking, Forest Green and Swindon Town.

Davison found the net nine times in 21 League Two matches for Swindon during the second half of last season.

"He's a young and hungry centre-forward that's capable of scoring goals at Football League level as he's already proved at Swindon Town," Jackson told the Dons website.

"He brings strength, power, pace and enthusiasm to the frontline.

"He has an unbelievable attitude. Josh has a big future ahead of him and he can be a real asset for this football club."

Maghoma, 21, joined Brentford in January 2020 from Tottenham Hotspur, where he progressed through the academy.

In January he signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League club - where he has yet to make a first-team appearance - to keep him there until the end of the 2024-25 season.

"He's someone that we highlighted at the start of the window as one that we wanted to get in," Jackson said.

"Paris has been involved with Brentford's first-team and has been on tour with them, so he's very highly regarded."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon striker Zach Robinson has signed a new two-year deal at the club.

The 20-year-old spent last term on loan at non-league sides Hemel Hempstead Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough before being recalled by the Dons.

"We're delighted that Zach has committed his future to the club," manager Johnnie Jackson told the club website.

"He's a bright young player with lots of potential. Hopefully he can play a big part in bringing the club success."

The striker, who has spent most of his career on loan, impressed in non-league first-team football last season, scoring four goals in 12 games.

When he returned to AFC Wimbledon at the end of their 2021-22 campaign, he started in four of their final eight games and scored his first League One goal in a 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic.

The Dons get their League Two campaign under way at home to Gillingham on Saturday, 30 July, after their relegation from the third tier.

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed Brentford forward Nathan Young-Coombes on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old began his career in Crystal Palace's academy before spells with the youth teams at Chelsea and Rangers.

He joined Brentford last summer, scoring 34 goals for their under-23 team last season.

Young-Coombes made his first-team debut this May as a substitute in their Premier League match with Southampton.

"I'm over the moon to get it across the line before the first game of the season. It's rather important to show that I'm ready to play men's football," Young-Coombes said.

AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson added: "He is a player I have had my eye on for a long time. He's an exciting young player with huge potential who will really complement our squad.

"He brings pace and energy at the top end of the pitch and a real eye for goal."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have re-signed midfielder Harry Pell from Accrington on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old previously spent time at Wimbledon from 2013 to 2015, during which time he made 65 appearances.

Pell began his career in Charlton Athletic's academy before going on to play for the likes of Bristol Rovers and Hereford United.

He also spent three years with both Cheltenham Town and Colchester United, and joined Accrington in 2021.

"I feel it's a good time for me to come back down to League Two and hopefully be challenging at the right end of the table," Pell said.

Pell signed a three-year deal with League One Accrington in May last year and played 43 times, scoring 14 goals. However, he said a pre-season conversation with manager John Coleman suggested he could leave.

"It's very rare that you would cut your contract short by two years and leave on good terms," added Pell.

"I don't hold any regrets whatsoever, I would do the same thing by joining Accrington again if I could rewind a year and I think for both parties, it was a success."

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed defender Ryley Towler on loan until the end of the season from Bristol City.

Towler, 20, joined the Championship club's academy at under-nine level and has made five senior appearances for the team.

The versatile defender can play at centre-back, left-back and in midfield.

He spent part of last season on loan at National League side Grimsby Town and featured 14 times during the first half of the campaign.

[themaclad]

AFC Wimbledon have signed free-agent goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen on a one-month contract.

The 24-year-old will provide cover while Nathan Broome recovers from a foot injury, suffered in an Papa Johns Trophy game last month.

Jaaskelainen was released by Crewe Alexandra in the summer, following 19 appearances last season.

"It was really important that we brought in adequate experience and cover," said boss Johnnie Jackson.

"Will has played a lot of games in the Football League - we know what we're getting from him and we know he'll come in and provide competition for that position in the team."

He is the son of former keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, whose clubs included Bolton, West Ham and Wigan.