[themaclad]

Defender Jay Williams has returned to Crawley Town just five months after signing for League Two rivals Milton Keynes Dons.

The centre-back, part of the Red Devils side which won the League Two play-offs in 2023-24, has gone back to Broadfield Stadium for an undisclosed fee.

Williams was a key man in Scott Lindsey's promotion-winning team before following Lindsey to MK Dons in January.

Lindsey was sacked in March and re-appointed manager by Crawley three weeks later, and has now re-signed Williams who also plays as a defensive midfielder.

[themaclad]

Milton Keynes Dons have signed Stockport County midfielder Will Collar after his contract expired at the League One club.

The 28-year-old has been a key figure for the Hatters, helping them to two promotions since their non-league days.

Collar is a Brighton youth product who made his senior debut for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership but left after two seasons to join Stockport, then in the National League, in 2021.

He made 171 appearances for Dave Challinor's team and scored 40 goals.

Dons head coach Paul Warne told the club website, external: "He's obviously a fantastic footballer as I think anyone at Stockport County will tell you, but he's also a strong character and has the chance to be a real leader for us in midfield.

"He scored goals in League One last season in a team that puts a lot of crosses into the box. He can arrive late and get his head on the ball which we'll need."

Stockport chief executive Simon Wilson said when the club announced his departure: "He is rightly a man in demand, and we have had to respect that the decision around his next move has to be in the best interest of himself and his family."

[themaclad]

Milton Keynes Dons have signed former Sheffield Wednesday forward Callum Paterson on an undisclosed deal.

The 30-year-old played 186 times in a five-year spell for the Owls, scoring 31 goals, before leaving the Championship club at the end of last season.

Paterson helped Wednesday win promotion to the second tier via the League One play-offs in 2023.

"I met the manager a couple of weeks ago, he shared his plans with me, and he had some great ideas, and I wanted to be a part of it," he told the club website, external.

"He's got a clear plan and he's a really approachable guy, it makes the difference when you can speak to the manager and he tells you exactly what he wants."

The Scotland international started his career at Hearts and went on to score 21 times in 106 appearances for Cardiff City before moving to Hillsborough in 2020.

"He's a player who's always been a thorn in my side when I've managed teams against him," said MK Dons boss Paul Warne.

"He's played in numerous positions and can slot in across the front line. He's good in the air, works really hard for the team, and he's a winner, which is what we want at this football club."

[themaclad]

Milton Keynes Dons have signed defender Marvin Ekpiteta from Hibernian.

The 29-year-old joins for an undisclosed fee.

He has previously played for Leyton Orient and made over 100 appearances for Blackpool between 2020 and 2024, before his move to the Scottish Premiership.

"I've played higher, I've played lower, and I know what it takes to push on and up, to get us out of this league," Ekpiteta told the MK Dons website.

"I feel like I bring a lot of experience and some good qualities to the team."

Manager Paul Warne added: "He's a big centre-half with pace, he's aggressive in both boxes, and I just think he's something the squad needs.

"I tried to sign him before when he was at Leyton Orient, but he went to Blackpool, and I've tracked him ever since."