MK Dons have signed the midfielder Jay Williams from League One side Crawley Town.

The 24-year-old midfielder is the Dons’ first signing of the January transfer window and moves to Stadium MK in a move that reunites him with Scott Lindsey, who managed him at Crawley last season, as well as his former Crawley team-mates Liam Kelly and Laurence Maguire. Williams has signed a contract of undisclosed length at Stadium MK.

Williams, who can play in defence or in midfield, joined Crawley in 2023 from Brackley Town, making the move to Sussex only a few weeks after joining Brackley from their local rivals Banbury. Before then, the player had represented home town club Northampton, Kettering Town, Harrogate Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

In his time at Crawley, Williams helped the Red Devils achieve promotion from League Two via the play-offs, including scoring in both legs as Crawley beat MK Dons in them last season.

Speaking to the MK Dons website, Williams said he was looking forward to getting started with his new employer.

He said, “There’s proper quality at this club right now, and I’m happy enough to do the dirty work and let them get on with scoring the goals!

“I’m a pivot. I’m quite an aggressive presence in the middle of the park. But as much as I like a tackle, I enjoy opening up other teams and playing through the lines!”

Lindsey voiced his own delight at being reunited with his former Crawley player.

He said, “Jay is a fantastic addition. I’ve worked with him before. He’s a midfield general who will organise the team, bark at people, make tackles, get us up the pitch and press well – the stuff most players don’t like doing! He trains and prepares like a demon. He’s a leader and still very young. I think he’ll be a great signing for MK Dons.”