‘It wasn’t the right time for me’ – New signing Matty Stevens on collapse of previous AFC Wimbledon move

EXCLUSIVE
BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Matty Stevens was close to signing for AFC Wimbledon before but Johnnie Jackson’s first recruit of the 2024-25 season at Plough Lane was pleased the original deal never came to fruition.

The Dons wanted to sign Stevens on loan from then League One side Forest Green Rovers, with the striker making a return to fitness following eight months sidelined with a serious ACL injury.

Stevens headed back to League Two for the second half of the 2022-23 season but turned down Wimbledon to join Walsall.

“It was nearly done,” Stevens told the South London Press. “Wimbledon was where I wanted to go.

“I had a call from Michael Flynn (then Walsall boss) and he promised me that I would play every game. There were other reasons to it. Jamille Matt, who is the best strike partner I have had, was there and he was speaking to me on the phone.

“I was on the way back from my ACL and I rushed back too quickly. I was a little bit overweight coming back – it took me a bit of time to get back to myself.

“The most important thing for me at that stage was game time.

“When the loan move came about, I was on my way to Wimbledon. Thank god I didn’t – it wasn’t the right time for me.

“Things happen for a reason. Now I’m looking back, I’m happy I didn’t end up coming to Wimbledon – the fans wouldn’t have seen the best of me.

“It was nice to know that they have had that interest before and now came back in for me.  It was a big reason [for signing now]. It’s the same gaffer and I didn’t want to let him down this time.

“I’m over the moon to be at Wimbledon.”

The 26-year-old was made a free agent this summer after Forest Green suffered back-to-back relegations to the National League. The Dons reignited their interest to swoop for Stevens’ signature on a two-year deal.

“I had to sit down and decide what I wanted to do,” said Stevens. “I’m coming into my best years and I want that to be here.

“This is the closest I have been to playing near my family since I was at Barnet as a 16-year-old. It was a big choice and I believe I have made the right one.”

Stevens is no stranger to League Two.

The ex-Peterborough forward has notched up 149 outings and recorded more than 50 goal contributions in the division.

His most prolific spell came in the 2021-22 season with Forest Green, when Stevens hit 23 goals in 37 games under Rob Edwards.

However, despite the Green Devils lifting the League Two trophy and winning promotion to League One, Stevens’ campaign did not have a fairytale ending after he suffered an ACL injury in a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe in April 2022.

“I was going into every game knowing that I was going to score,” said Stevens. “It was a really good time – we had a great team. I still speak to every one of them now.

“It was bittersweet. I was the joint-top goalscorer for the Golden Boot when I got injured. Dom Telford, who was at Newport at the time, went on to win it by a couple of goals.

“As a striker, on a personal note, it hurt – even though I got into the team of the season and made the top three in the Player of the Year.

“There is no better personal accolade than the Golden Boot. I missed out on that, which I believe I would have won.

“The celebrations at the end were cut short. When I got injured, we were 12 points clear with a game in hand.

“We were basically already promoted. It was just about going for the title, which we were odds on to do.  But the celebrations weren’t as nice for myself, because I was on crutches. It killed the experience when you put so much effort in all season.

“It was horrible being out. I’m a sporty person either way – I’m into my boxing and like going for a game of tennis.

“With an injury like that, you can’t do any activity for about six months. It was frustrating.

“I got through it.

“I wanted to be playing in League One against the likes of Ipswich, who are in the Premier League now.

“I feel back to my best now.”

Stevens will bolster Jackson’s striker options alongside Omar Bugiel, Josh Kelly, Aron Sasu and Josh Davison.

The Dons searched for a remedy to their goalscoring problems in the second half of the season after Ali Al-Hamadi was sold to Ipswich for a club record fee for the phoenix era.

“It’s weird,” said Stevens. “Sometimes the partnership you expect might not always be the best.

“They are all good players and I have done a lot of research about them all. I’m excited to try and find a partnership with each and every one of them.

“I don’t have a bad word to say about Forest Green – it’s a great club and a club close to my heart. But Wimbledon have already sold over 4,000 season tickets – that’s more than Forest Green get at a home game in general.

“I’m excited to play in front of the bigger crowds – it’s something I thrive off.”

Stevens netted 11 times last season in his first full campaign after returning to full fitness.

He said: “I have played a lot of games now. I have won the league. I have been top goalscorer in a team that has won the league. I missed quite a few games towards the end of the 2021-22 season, but still ended up on 27 goals.

“I would have backed myself to get over 30. I never had an injury before the ACL. I would train and play every day – I was never in the physio room. It just happened to be that the first injury I had was a bad one.

“I’m confident in my own ability. I was unlucky with the injury and it set me back.

“Not only did it take me out of football for a little bit, it took me a little while to find my feet and get back to where I want to be – I believe I am there now.

“I feel back to my best and I’m in my prime years. There are no excuses – I am fit and ready to go.

“Individually, I set my goals quite high. I have my own short-term target goal-wise. Once I hit that, I push it on.

“The goal for any striker is to get close to the Golden Boot, if not win it. Especially when you have been in that position like myself – I know I can do it.

“As a team, promotion has to be the goal.

“If not winning the league, then promotion is definitely why I have come to the club.”