MK Dons are closing in on signing League One defender Gethin Jones, whose contract is set to expire at Bolton Wanderers.
The 29-year-old is having a medical with the Dons ahead of a free transfer move to Paul Warne’s side.
Jones is set to leave Bolton after five years at the Trotters, with his contract expiring at the end of June.
This is according to Pete O’Rourke, who reported that Jones is having his medical with the Dons ahead of his free transfer move.
How did Jones fare last season?
Jones struggled to make as much of an impact with Bolton in the 2024/2025 campaign as he did in previous seasons for the Trotters.
The Australian international struggled with consistent gametime in League One, making 23 appearances, picking up an assist and four yellow cards.
It was a similar story for Jones in cup competitions, with the defender being left out of the squad in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, playing only four times in the EFL Trophy as Bolton lost in the quarter-finals against Wrexham.
Overall, the 29-year-old made 27 appearances in all competitions, assisting once and picking up four yellow cards, struggling to make an impact as Bolton finished the season in eighth place.
MK Dons closing in on Jones.
According to Pete O’Rourke, Gethin Jones is having his medical at MK Dons ahead of a move to the Stadium MK.
The defender is set to leave Bolton with his contract expiring at the end of the month, meaning he would join the Dons on a free transfer.
Alan Nixon also reported on the transfer, saying manager Paul Warne is trying to find experienced players to build a core in his team.
The Dons have already signed forwards Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
Would this be a good signing for MK Dons?
After an underwhelming 2024/2025 campaign, finishing the season in 19th, picking up 52 points, it seems the Dons are looking to improve their squad and climb up the table.
New manager Paul Warne has already added to the squad, bringing in Mendez-Laing from Derby County and Hepburn-Murphy from Crawley Town, strengthening their attack, but they may need to add to their defence to climb up the table.
One player who could help the Dons defence for next season and help them climb up the table could be Gethin Jones.
Jones has shown through the years his versatility, being able to operate both as a right-back and as a centre-back.
This could be valuable for a manager like Warne, who often switches between a three at the back and a four at the back; having a player like Jones, who is versatile, could give Warne a chance to play him in different positions if he decides to switch formations for certain matches.
Jones also has experience in League Two, making over 80 appearances and getting promoted from the division in 2021 with Bolton; this experience means he would not need to get settled in the league and could hit the ground running and potentially be a leader on the pitch.
While he had a difficult 2024/2025 campaign, bringing in someone like Jones, who has experience in the league and is versatile at the back, could be an excellent signing for the Dons, and with it being a free transfer, it is less of a risk as they are not spending a hefty fee for him.
It will be interesting to see if Jones can complete his medical for the Dons and if he can help them climb the table.