[themaclad]

MK Dons have signed wing-back Kyran Lofthouse from Barnsley on loan for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign.

The 23-year-old joined the Tykes from Woking last summer and made three appearances at the start of the season.

He was then loaned to Gateshead, former club of MK Dons boss Mike Williamson, before being recalled last week.

"I have a good relationship with Mike and (assistant boss) Ian (Watson), I really like the way they go about things," Lofthouse said.

He could make his Dons debut in Saturday's away game at Tranmere Rovers, alongside midfielder Stephen Wearne, who moved from Gateshead last week.

On Lofthouse, Williamson said: "He did extremely well at Gateshead, and I think this move is a good fit for both parties, he can come here and continue that progression.

"I think he's got all the potential to step-up to the next level and beyond."

Meanwhile, defender Dean Lewington, who recently made his 771st appearance for the Dons and set a new English Football League record for the most by a player for a single club, has been nominated for December's League Two player of the month award.

His rivals for the award are Notts County's Macaulay Langstaff, Tranmere's Kieron Morris and Barrow's Ben Whitfield, with the winner to be announced on Friday.

[themaclad]

Milton Keynes Dons have made two loan signings in one day by bringing in young Polish goalkeeper Filip Marschall from Aston Villa and Leeds United midfielder Lewis Bate.

The arrival of 20-year-old Marschall follows Thursday's exit of keeper Craig MacGillivray to Stevenage on loan.

Like Marschall, 21-year-old Bate has signed for the rest of the season.

That takes new Dons boss Mike Williamson's January transfer window signings to four.

Bate, signed by Leeds from Chelsea for £1.5m in July 2021, has only made four first-team appearances and spent most of last season on loan at Oxford United.

Three of Williamson's four signings also played for him at his previous club Gateshead.

Marschall spent the second half of last season at the National League club, helping them to avoid relegation.

Williamson had also previously signed Barnsley wing-back Kyran Lofthouse, who spent the first half of this season at Gateshead, as well as Head midfielder Stephen Hearne.

[themaclad]

League Two side MK Dons have signed Stoke City striker Emre Tezgel on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 18-year-old, who has come through Stoke's academy, has featured six times off the bench for the Potters first team.

Tezgel become the youngest ever Stoke player to make his senior debut when, at the age of 16, he featured against Leyton Orient in January 2022.

"He's a young, exciting talent," said MK Dons boss Mike Williamson.

It was under Michael O'Neill that Tezgel was handed his historic debut against the O's in the FA Cup third round in 2022.

He also came off the bench in the fourth-round win over Wigan Athletic that season - and made four further substitute appearances last term, and is yet to finish on the losing side for the Potters.

[themaclad]

MK Dons have cancelled the contract of New Zealand international defender Tommy Smith by mutual agreement.

The 33-year-old has joined Australian A-League side Macarthur FC following 12 appearances for the Dons this season.

He was a regular starter for the League Two side in the early part of the season but played his final game for them in the EFL Trophy on 5 December.

Smith, who joined from Colchester last summer, played at the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Olympics and has won 51 caps.

[themaclad]

Defender Warren O'Hora is among five players released by MK Dons following their defeat in the League Two play-offs.

The 25-year-old made 51 appearances in 2023-24, including both legs of their 8-1 aggregate loss to Crawley Town.

Midfielders Dan Kemp and Ethan Robson will also depart when their contracts expire at the end of June, along with Sudan international forward Mo Eisa and goalkeeper Michael Kelly.

Eisa, 29, scored five goals in 23 games before joining Exeter City on loan in January.

Kemp spent the first half of last season on loan at Swindon Town before returning to Stadium: MK to make 21 appearances, his last in a 4-4 draw with Sutton United on 27 April.

Robson played 34 times in 2023-24, while Kelly appeared in the first leg of the play-off against Crawley, which they lost 3-0, but was left out for the return.

MK Dons announced on Thursday that veteran full-back Dean Lewington had agreed a new 12-month contract, just two days before his 40th birthday.

[themaclad]

MK Dons have signed midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans from Stockport County.

The 27-year-old helped Stockport to promotion as League Two champions this season, with six goals in 24 appearances.

His campaign with the Hatters was split between a loan stint with AFC Wimbledon, where he scored three goals in 17 games.

Lemonheigh-Evans moves to MK Dons on a free transfer, with talks about extending his stay with the Hatters beyond the summer failing to result in a new deal at Edgeley Park.

“I want to get promoted again," Lemonheigh-Evans told the MK Dons website., external

"I want to bring quality and help the team as much as possible to achieve that.”

MK Dons finished fourth in League Two and went out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage with a heavy defeat by Crawley Town.

[themaclad]

Former Crewe Alexandra captain Luke Offord has signed for MK Dons on a free transfer.

The defender, who had been with The Railwaymen since he was seven, made his senior debut in 2020 and went on to play 170 games for his childhood club.

Offord was part of the Crewe side that gained promotion to League One in his first year at senior level and most recently captained them to the League Two promotion play-off final, losing to Crawley Town.

"17 years is a long time at a football club, and they [Crewe] have made me the player I am today," the 24-year-old told MK Dons' official website, external.

"I might not have got this opportunity to come to a massive club like MK Dons if it wasn’t for them. I can't thank them enough.

"Driving here to this huge stadium, I just can't wait to go out there and play in front of the fans."

[themaclad]

Milton Keynes Dons have signed centre-back Laurence Maguire from Chesterfield on an undisclosed-length contract.

The 27-year-old younger brother of England defender Harry Maguire arrives in Buckinghamshire on the back of a season on loan with Crawley Town, with whom he won promotion to League One, beating MK 8-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

Maguire joins on a free transfer and becomes the Dons' third summer signing after Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Luke Offord.

He will be joined in League Two by Chesterfield, who also won promotion without him by winning the National League.

The former Chesterfield academy product had been on the Spireites' books since 2014, making the first of his 168 appearances in August 2016, as well as spending a year on loan at AFC Fylde.

"Laurence is a hugely talented defender," Dons head coach Mike Williamson told the club website., external

"As a centre-back, he possesses all the physical qualities you need to succeed at this level. He's also very composed on the ball with a sharp footballing brain."

[themaclad]

MK Dons have signed Accrington Stanley midfielder Tommy Leigh for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old scored eight goals in 42 appearances for Accrington last season.

He is the fourth new face at Stadium: MK following fellow midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and defenders Luke Offord and Laurence Maguire.

"I want to get more goals in my game, and I think I can do that here - hopefully, with the team we have, we can go on and win the league," Leigh told the Dons website., external

Leigh began his career in the academy at Portsmouth but following his release at the age of 16, he had to wait until the summer of 2021 for a chance in the professional game with Accrington.

He played 120 games for them in total, scoring 28 goals, and Dons boss Mike Williamson said he was excited by his latest recruit as they look to improve on last season's League Two play-off finish.

"He’s a young midfielder that adds quality, experience and hunger which aligns perfectly for our progression," Williamson said.

No details about the length of Leigh's contract have been disclosed.

[themaclad]

MK Dons have signed defender Sam Sherring after he rejected a new contract offered by Northampton Town.

The 24-year-old centre-back made 77 appearances in two years with the Cobblers, 40 of them in League One last term, after helping Northampton win promotion the season before.

He is Dons' fifth signing since their 8-1 aggregate defeat by Crawley in the League Two play-offs.

"The plan and the vision for the club, as well as the facilities and everything here, made it a no-brainer decision for me," Sherring told the club website., external

Dons head coach Mike Williamson added: "Sam fits the profile of the kind of player we want to bring into the club down to the ground.

"He's young and hungry to succeed but already has meaningful EFL experience and has won promotion from this division before."

No details have been disclosed about Sherring's contract at Stadium: MK.

A Northampton statement, external said: "The club made Sherring a good contract offer but Sam has said his decision to move on is not a financial one, it is a personal decision and everyone at the club wishes Sam every success with his future career."