Stevenage are set to win the race for former player Dan Kemp after he turned down a move to Swindon Town, sources have confirmed to The Deck.
The 25-year-old is a free agent after departing MK Dons at the end of the season and has opted to accept a contract being offered by League One side Stevenage in a return to the club he joined in 2019/2020.
The creative midfielder turned down an ambitious attempt from Swindon Town to bring him back to the County Ground, where he picked up the Player of the Season Award, despite only spending the first half of the campaign there on loan. The player also had several other offers on the table at the time from League One and League Two.
A good fit for Stevenage?
Kemp had a superb start to the 2023/24 season, forging a dangerous partnership with Jake Young and Charlie Austin in attack for Swindon Town. He scored 16 times and assisted on eight occasions in 27 appearances picking up the end of season award in the process. However, his return to MK Dons, after being recalled in January failed to recapture the same form. He appeared 21 times, scoring three and assisting twice and was let go at the end of the season.
Stevenage are looking to rebuild after the departure of their promotion winning manager Steve Evans and despite Alex Revell being at the club under the former Leeds United manager, he is keen to make this team his own, rather than just a continuation of what was there before. The signing of Kemp perhaps demonstrates this well, as the player is superb at picking out intricate passes in the final third and creating goals for others. The striking department at Stevenage will benefit, as his intricate footwork can often occupy defenders allowing them more space as they naturally gravitate towards him to try and stop the pass. At 25 years old he is also about to enter his prime and will be looking upwards to continue his career, which can only be a positive for the League One side.