MK Dons have completed the loan signing of Charlton Athletic midfielder Jack Payne.
Payne, 28, will spend the 2023/24 season at Stadium MK and becomes the Club’s eighth signing of the summer.
Since making his professional debut for Southend United back in August 2013, Payne has totalled 387 career appearances for eight different clubs. He has scored 65 goals and provided 57 assists while also winning promotion from all three EFL divisions.
The midfielder has spent the majority of his career at League One level, during spells with Southend, Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Oxford United, Lincoln City and Blackburn Rovers. He also played in the Championship with Huddersfield Town.
“I’m really glad to be here,” Payne said in an exclusive first interview with iFollow MK Dons. “When I heard about the interest it was something that really interested me and I’m excited to get going,
“I spoke to the manager before joining and we had positive conversations, where he spoke highly of the place. It’s always important to get a good feeling when you talk to a manager, and I got that straight away. I’m really excited to work with him.
“The lads have been doing really well, so I don’t expect to just arrive and go straight into the team but, obviously, I’m going to be doing my best in training, and when I get the chance, I’m going to give it my all to help this team continue to be successful.”
Born in London, Payne began his professional career with Southend United, making his senior debut in an EFL Cup tie against Yeovil Town in August 2013. He scored 17 goals in 88 games for the Shrimpers, helping them win promotion to League One via the Play-Offs, before joining Championship outfit Huddersfield Town in June 2016.
Payne made 28 appearances as the Terriers won promotion to the Premier League in his first season in West Yorkshire. He then enjoyed loan spells at Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City across the next two campaigns, winning promotion to the Championship with Blackburn before contributing to 16 goals in 47 games for Bradford.
In July 2019, the midfielder left Huddersfield for Lincoln City and spent one season at Sincil Bank ahead of a move to Swindon Town. Across a two-year spell with the Robins, Payne scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists in 88 appearances.
His form in Wiltshire earned Payne a move back to League One last summer, signing for Charlton Athletic on a free transfer following the expiration of his Swindon contract. He has, so far, played 54 times for the Addicks, contributing to 14 goals.
Head Coach Graham Alexander said: “We are really pleased to have Jack Payne through the door.
“We were really clear on what we needed to bring in to help support the players that are already here. Jack is a player that we feel we need, complimenting Ash Hunter who we have also brought it in – one is a left-footer and one is right-footed, which gives us real balance.
“He is a player I tried to sign previously but it didn’t work out so I’m glad to get the opportunity to work with him this time around and I believe he will be a really good signing for us.”
