AFC Wimbledon 2024-25 preview: Signings, key player, one to watch, prediction and opening fixtures

Last season’s league position:: 10th in League Two

Top-scorer 2023-24: Ali Al-Hamadi (17 in all competitions))

Most appearances in all comps: Alex Bass, James Tilley and Omar Bugiel (48).

Players in: Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace, loan), Lewis Ward (Charlton, free), Callum Maycock (Solihull Moors, free), Myles Hippolyte (Stockport, free), Matty Stevens (Forest Green, free), John-Joe O’Toole (Mansfield, free), Joe Pigott (Leyton Orient, loan), Alistair Smith (Lincoln, loan), James Furlong (Hull, loan)

Players out: Jack Currie (Oxford, £400,000), Zach Robinson (Motherwell, free), Ronan Curtis (Port Vale, free), Armani Little (Gillingham, free), Harry Pell (Cheltenham, free), Nik Tzanev (Northampton, free), Paul Kalambayi (Dagenham & Redbridge, free) Josh Davison (Tranmere, undisclosed), Will Nightingale (Ross County, loan), Alex Pearce (free agent), Lee Brown (retired)

KEY PLAYER: OMAR BUGIEL
The Dons’ Player of the Season last year and set to have more firepower around him in Joe Pigott, Matty Stevens and Josh Kelly.

ONE TO WATCH: MATTY STEVENS
Someone who has scored goals at League Two level and has impressed in pre-season. Bagged 23 goals in Forest Green’s 2021-22 promotion season.

TOP THREE PREDICTION
Port Vale, Gillingham and Milton Keynes

PLAY-OFFS PREDICTION
Wimbledon, Chesterfield, Carlisle and Doncaster

RELEGATED PREDICTION
Morecambe and Newport

A FANS’ OPINION: Lee Walker

“Last season we were very fortunate to have Ali Al-Hamadi to carry us through the first half of the season.

“Sadly, that isn’t the case this season, and we are have also lost one of the top-performing goalkeepers in the league, Alex Bass, along with Jack Currie and Armani Little.

“On paper, it looks to me that the budget has been cut, but our transfer team has done a magnificent job utilising the loan market. Alister Smith and Callum Maycock will be big signings, along with Matty Stevens up front.

“If we have learned to play the ball to Josh Kelly’s feet and not treat him like Carl Leaburn then he could be the difference for us this year and capable of more than goals.”

Prediction: 12th.

OPENING FIXTURES

August 10 – Colchester H (League Two) 3pm

August 13 – Bromley A (EFL Cup) 7.45pm

August 17 – Bromley H (League Two) 12.30pm

August 24 – Cheltenham A (League Two) 3pm

August 31 – Fleetwood Town H (League Two) 3pm

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD