The Derby County defender is reported to be sought out by MK Dons

Defender Curtis Nelson has been linked with a reunion with Paul Warne at MK Dons this month.

The Derby County centre-back recently made his comeback for the Rams after spending nearly a year on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Reports have Nelson, 32, linked heavily with a move to MK1, though they face competition from League One sides Burton, Mansfield and Plymouth, where he began his career.

Signed by Warne in 2023 after spells at Argyle, Oxford, Cardiff and Blackpool, Nelson helped County secure promotion from League One during his first season at Pride Park, and then maintain their spot in the Championship the following season. Such was his influence on the side, he played 90 minutes for 73 consecutive league games for Derby before knee ligament damage ruled him out for most of 2025.

Returning to the pitch in December, Nelson has just six months remaining on his contract, and with vast options at manager John Eustance’s disposal at DE24, Nelson is set to depart for pastures new.

He would not be alone in the Dons dressing room, should he make the switch, with ex-Derby team-mates Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kane Wilson also following Warne to Milton Keynes last summer.

Centre-back is a position Warne is likely to want additional cover in. Nathan Thompson’s injury woes since arriving at the club 12 months ago have limited him to 11 appearances, while Laurence Maguire too made only 22 outings in 2025.

Recently too, with Jack Sanders suspended and then injury to Marvin Ekpiteta, Warne has been forced to play right-back Gethin Jones as part of back three, though the Australian is still having his own fitness managed after spending three months out with a hamstring injury which he suffered in August.

Dons have already made two signings during the January window, securing the signatures of midfielders Ben Wiles from Huddersfield Town and Jay Matete from Sunderland.