Will Dennis has signed for Milton Keynes Dons on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee, subject to FA and EFL clearance, marking a significant move for the 26-year-old goalkeeper. The club confirmed the signing on Tuesday, with manager Paul Warne stating they had to be patient to secure the right acquisition for their goalkeeping department.
What the fee means for the summer budget
The undisclosed fee allows Milton Keynes Dons to strengthen their squad without impacting their current transfer budget, which is already focused on League One survival. The club is 14th in League One with two points from two games, recent form DD, and sits four points behind leaders Bradford in the title race. Their next fixture is at home against Leicester on 2026-08-29, where they will face a team 18th in the table.
Where he fits in the current squad
Will Dennis will compete with Craig MacGillivray for the number one goalkeeper spot at Stadium MK, adding experience from the Scottish Premiership and National League. He has played for Luton Town, Watford, Coventry City, Stevenage, and MK Dons as a youth player before joining AFC Bournemouth, and has also had loan spells at FC Guernsey, Weymouth, Wealdstone, Slough, Kilmarnock, and Leyton Orient. His 44 appearances for Kilmarnock in the 2023/24 season included 18 clean sheets as the club finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership.
His journey to professional football
Will Dennis, born in 1998 in Bedford, joined AFC Bournemouth’s youth ranks at age 15 and graduated from their academy in 2021. He turned professional 18 months later, making his first-team debut at the start of the 2019/20 season and earning one FA Cup appearance against Oldham Athletic in 2021. His loan spells have taken him across England and Scotland, including a 15-appearance stint at Leyton Orient in the 2023/24 season where he conceded 17 goals and kept four clean sheets.
What this means for the season
The signing comes as Milton Keynes Dons navigate a challenging start to the League One campaign, with their recent form DD leaving them 14th with two points from two games. They are four points behind leaders Bradford in the title race, and their next home game against Leicester on 2026-08-29 will be a crucial test. The club’s sporting director Liam Sweeting said they are pleased to have Will with them and look forward to seeing him compete for his place and make a positive contribution to the team.
