Ex-Bristol City flop seals late window transfer to League 2 side ahead of frantic deadline day
The defender made just five league appearances for Bristol City during an injury-hit 12 months at Ashton Gate
League Two promotion hopefuls MK Dons have completed the Deadline Day signing of a former Bristol City defender.
Paul Warne’s side have agreed a deal with Derby County to sign Kane Wilson in a move which sees the 25-year-old reunite with his former manager at the Stadium MK.
Wilson is the 10th signing MK Dons have made this summer after a big-spending window which has seen the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Gethin Jones, Aaron Collins, Will Collar, Tom Finch, Callum Paterson, Marvin Ekpiteta and Jon Mellish all arrive.
MK Dons have started the season slowly with just three wins, two draws and one defeat in their opening six matches. It leaves them in seventh position heading into September, with manager Warne now seeking much greater consistency throughout the remainder of the campaign.
How did Kane Wilson fare at Bristol City?
Kane Wilson joined Bristol City in 2022 on a free transfer from Forest Green Rovers. At the time Wilson was a player in high demand after winning the League Two Player of the Year award and helping Rob Edwards’ side to the title.
Wilson scored three and registered an emphatic 13 assists in 45 appearances during a sensational final season in Gloucestershire but failed to hit the same heights during a brief and ultimately unsuccessful one season stint with the Robins.
Overall, Wilson made just five league appearances for Bristol City and just seven across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist. He was a member of a team that finished 14th in the Championship and a distant 10 points adrift of the play-offs in what was ultimately a fairly underwhelming campaign.
He was sold for an undisclosed fee to Derby County the following summer, representing a small profit for the Cider Army, who never really saw the best of Wilson and his abilities.
Kane Wilson is an attacking minded right-back with good crossing ability, stamina and plenty of experience operating at a higher level. He’s won two career promotions over the last four years and was notably a near ever present for Paul Warne’s team in the 2022/23 season as Derby won automatic promotion from League One with a second placed finish.
Wilson also helped establish the Rams as a second tier club and was particularly important during the side’s first season back in the Championship with six goal contributions. Overall, he played 85 times for Derby, scoring five times and making seven assists. He could make his debut at Stadium MK on Saturday against Grimsby Town
Wilson said: "I'm really happy, it's been a mad few days! I'm absolutely buzzing! He's (Paul Warne) one of a kind, really! He makes me laugh! When we spoke on the phone, he was so positive about the club; it was one of those things that was just right for me and my family. I just really wanted to be involved!"