MK Dons have completed the signing of attacker Ashley Hunter on a free transfer.
Hunter, 27, moves to Football Club after leaving Morecambe in June, reuniting with Head Coach Graham Alexander, with whom he played under at Fleetwood Town and Salford City.
Since making his EFL debut under Alexander at Fleetwood, Hunter has totalled 330 career appearances and directly contributed to 100 goals, scoring 53 and providing 47 assists. In his 69 Sky Bet League Two starts, the versatile forward has contributed 29 goal contributions.
He becomes the Club’s seventh signing this summer, following the arrivals of Alex Gilbey, Cameron Norman, Craig MacGillivray, Nathan Harness, MJ Williams and Tommy Smith.
“I’m really happy to sign here and work with the Gaffer again,” Hunter said in an exclusive interview with iFollow MK Dons. “I can’t wait to get going.
“I will work hard and hopefully bring some goals and assists as well. I’ve always done that under the Gaffer – he trusts me and allows me to play with freedom and that usually works out well for me.
“I want to come in and be a part of a winning team. This is a tricky division and it can be tough to get out of it but I think we have a team that can do well and hopefully we can have a successful season.”
Born in Derby, Hunter spent time with the Rams as a youth player, as well as Aston Villa, Barnsley and Burton Albion, before joining non-league Ilkeston in 2014. Impressing while at the Northern Premier League club, Hunter was signed by Fleetwood Town in January 2015.
Handed his professional debut by Graham Alexander a month later, Hunter went on to spend the next six seasons with the Sky Bet League One outfit, totalling 216 appearances, 38 goals and 28 assists. He was a key performer in Fleetwood’s third-tier play-off finish in 2016/17.
In January 2020, Hunter made a loan move to Salford City, reuniting with his former Cod Army boss Graham Alexander. After scoring five goals in 11 appearances, Hunter made the move to Greater Manchester permanent in July.
Hunter spent two full seasons at the Peninsula Stadium, racking up a total of 93 games for the Ammies while also scoring 14 goals and providing 17 assists. He also helped them win the EFL Trophy in March 2021, playing 74 minutes in the penalty shoot-out success over Portsmouth.
Leaving Salford in June 2022, Hunter was soon snapped up by Morecambe. After starting their first five matches, the attacker suffered an injury which kept him sidelined until January. In total last season, he made 10 starts and contributed to three goals.
Now back fully fit, Hunter has linked up with Graham Alexander for a third time and will be hoping to have similar success in terms of goals and assists from his previous two spells under the MK Dons Head Coach.
Head Coach Graham Alexander told mkdons.com: “I’ve known Ash since we signed him at Fleetwood Town out of non-league. We then signed him again a few seasons later when at Salford City.
“He can play in a number of attacking positions and provides a creative spark in the final third. He’s good on the ball and provides a real threat in terms of end product. He’s got a small frame but a big personality and heart.
“I think he’s got a bit of a point to prove coming here. He’s got plenty of good years in front of him, so long as he does the right things and I know he’s got that bit between his teeth to prove what a good player he is – he knows that in me and Chris Lucketti, he’s also got people who believe in him and are delighted to have him here.”
