Find out more about MK Dons’ first summer signing of the window

He may have missed out on promotion to the Championship, but Charlie Goode proved he is one of the top defenders in League One last season.

The former Stevenage man put pen to paper on a move to MK Dons just a few weeks after Boro lost in the play-off semi-finals to Stockport County. His performances last season not only helped steer Alex Revell’s side to a top seven six finish but also into the League One Team of the Season, with only dominant title winners Lincoln City having a better defensive record across the campaign.

Beginning his career in the academies at Watford and Fulham, Goode had to bide his time to get into the professional game, playing non-league football for Hayes and Hendon before he was picked up by then-League One side Scunthorpe United.

Three years as a semi-regular at Glanford Park saw him make 85 appearances for the Iron before a loan spell at Northampton Town saw him drop a division to play at Sixfields. Impressing at Cobblers, the move was made a permanent one in 2019 where he would establish himself as the skipper of the side.

The season was curtailed by Covid, but Goode’s performances led Northampton to promotion to League One, while he also landed plenty of accolades - Supporters’ Player of the Year, was included in the PFA League Two Team of the Year and was twice nominated for PFA Player of the Month.

His performances earned him a move from Northampton to Championship side Brentford for a fee which broke Cobblers’ out-going record at the time. While he was used sparingly in the Championship, he was named in the squad during Brentford’s play-off final win over Swansea to see the Bees into the Premier League.

While he would make appearances in the top flight, loans followed in the Championship at Sheffield United and Blackpool before a stint back in League One at Wigan before he agreed a move to Stevenage in 2024 at the end of his contract in London.

While he missed a good chunk of his first season at the club with a broken leg, his performances earned him a second year at the Lamex Stadium where he helped lead the side to a sixth place finish, just two points adrift of third place.

Goode’s arrival at Stadium MK comes after defenders Laurence Maguire and Luke Offord departed on free transfers.