Free agent Keogh signs for MK Dons

MK Dons have beaten off competition from other League One clubs to complete the free agent signing of former Derby defender Richard Keogh.

The 33-year-old centre-back was controversially sacked by the Rams last October and has since been recovering from an injury sustained in the drink-driving incident that was the catalyst for his departure from Pride Park.

After signing for the Dons, Keogh described how much he has missed football after 10 months on the sidelines and how influential the League One club's manager Russ Martin was in persuading him to join.

"(MK Dons) are going to get a hungry guy who has missed some football," he said. "I’m looking forward to getting out there and trying to move this club and this team forward.

"I’m delighted it’s finally happened now, from myself, it’s been a long time coming, but once I spoke to Russ and saw the vision and playing style he has – it just felt like the right fit for me.

"I was getting to a stage in my rehab where I wanted to start looking at getting a club. Luckily for me, I’ve got that now and I couldn't be more excited, it’s a fantastic set up here and I really believe in what the gaffer is trying to build here and I think it’s going to be a perfect fit for me.

With over 400 games of Championship experience under his belt, Keogh becomes Dons' third summer signing after the arrivals of loanee Carlton Morris from Norwich and defender Daniel Harvie from Ayr United.

✍️ #MKDons have signed Irish international defender Richard Keogh.

Full story 👉 https://t.co/NxLEqOZkVp#DonDeal pic.twitter.com/gpFuRPhncW

— MK Dons (@MKDonsFC) August 7, 2020