Milton Keynes Dons have today announced the signing of midfielder Alex Gilbey, seeing him return to the club after a three-year absence.
The 28-year-old midfielder becomes Graham Alexander’s first signing in charge of the club, bringing back one of the team’s previous League Two promotion winners.
In his previous spell at Stadium MK, between 2017 and 2020, Gilbey made 105 appearances and contributed to 22 goals, with 11 of his own.
He played a crucial part in Paul Tisdale’s promotion-winning side during the 2018-19 season, making 39 appearances, scoring three goals and assisting on a further seven as the Dons finished the season in third place.
Departing for Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2020, Gilbey featured in 66 games (six goals, five assists) for the London club but found himself out of favour at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
This saw him loaned out to then-League Two side Stevenage, under the guidance of Steve Evans, where he once again became a key component in a promotion-winning season as his 45 appearances and eight goal contributions helped The Boro to second place in the league.
Out of contract this summer, Gilbey signs with the Dons on a free transfer.
His experience and quality will be a significant boost for the Dons as they look to immediately bounce back from their relegation, aiming for promotion from League Two at the very first time of asking.
Speaking of his return, Gilbey commented: "I’m over the moon. As soon as I found out there was interest, I wanted to get this done because I wanted to come home and come back to the Club."
"I absolutely loved my time here before – I’d say they were three of the best years of my career so far. I feel like I have some unfinished business to take care of and I want to help the Club get back to where it should be."
"The fans were always great with me and I can’t wait to see them all again. I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates, working under Graham Alexander and getting started."
Head Coach Graham Alexander said: "We have a clear idea of our recruitment drive this summer. We will sign any player that has the right attributes but there is a need to bring in some know-how and winning experience and Alex brings all that, having been promoted twice from this division, just last season and with this Club as well."
"I know he has a real affection for this Football Club and looking in the whites of his eyes, I saw the motivation he has to do well for all the right reasons. I think we have a really good player on our hands."
