MK Dons have signed free-agent midfielder Josh McEachran on a short-term deal.
McEachran, who turns 28 today, left Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham City in January and has recently been training with the Dons.
The former Chelsea midfielder arrives at Stadium MK with 217 appearances to his name for the likes of Middlesbrough, Vitesse Arnhem, Brentford as well as the two Blues - Birmingham and Chelsea.
He will wear the number 5 shirt. The deal is subject to clearance from the football authorities.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity that the gaffer has given me and I just can’t wait to get started,” McEachran told iFollow MK Dons after putting pen to paper at Stadium MK.
“I came here to keep fit but everyone has been fantastic with me. The way the Gaffer wants to play is suited to me. I like to get on the ball as much as possible and dictate play so it felt like a perfect fit.
“I have been out for a little while now but this is the fittest and strongest I’ve felt for a long time. Hopefully I can get back to playing regular football and help the team out.”
Born in Oxford, McEachran joined Chelsea’s Academy at the age of seven and helped the Blues win the FA Youth Cup in 2010. That same year, he made his senior debut as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League tie with Zilina.
The midfielder went on to make 22 appearances for Chelsea, 11 in the Premier League, while also enjoying loan spells at Swansea City, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan Athletic and Vitesse Arnhem.
In July 2015, McEachran joined Brentford for a reported £750,000 and played 102 games for the Bees before moving to Birmingham City four years later.
Injuries limited his appearances for the Blues, with his last outing for the St. Andrews outfit coming in February 2020. Eleven months later, he agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Birmingham City and became a free agent.
Manager Russell Martin said: “Josh is an incredibly gifted player, with an outstanding passing range, and someone who is very suited to how we play.
“He gives us another strong option in midfield which will be important during a hectic period. It will allow us to mix things up and means we will be able to adapt to different games and play a few different ways.
“This is an exciting one of for us. He is a player who is entering into the peak of his career and can still be anything he wants to be. He’s worked really hard to get into good shape and who knows where it will lead for us and him.”
