MK Dons have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Nathan Harness on a free transfer.
Harness, 23, will officially join the Football Club when his contract with Charlton Athletic expires at the end of June.
A product of Ipswich Town Academy, who also spent time with Stevenage as a youngster, Harness arrives at Stadium MK with nine appearances to his name in EFL competitions, the majority coming in the EFL Trophy for the Addicks.
Harness, who has also enjoyed non-league spells at Billericay Town, Welling United, Dulwich Hamlet and Bromley, kept clean sheets in of two those nine EFL appearances, including a shut-out in a 1-0 victory over MK Dons at The Valley in January 2022.
He becomes Graham Alexander’s third signing this summer, following the arrivals of Alex Gilbey and Cameron Norman.
“I’m delighted to be here,” Harness said in an exclusive interview with iFollow MK Dons. “When I first heard of the interest, it stood out to me so I couldn’t wait to get the deal done and become a Dons player.
“I’m a goalkeeper who, first and foremost, likes to keep the ball out of the net. I also like to think of myself as brave and I’m happy to fly at people’s feet when needed. Ultimately, I’m a player who wears my heart on my sleeve and will give my all for three points.
“I’ve had some brilliant conversations with the Gaffer and his staff about their plans for this season and I just can’t wait to get started.”
Spending time with Ipswich Town and Stevenage as a youth player, Harness had his first taste of senior football with Dunstable Town.
His form for the Blues caught the eye of Charlton Athletic, who invited him for a trial before making the move permanent, penning the-then 19-year-old to a professional contract in May 2019.
Earlier in his spell at The Valley, Harness enjoyed loan spells at National League South sides Billericay Town and Welling United. He then made his Charlton debut in an EFL Trophy victory over Crawley Town in August 2021.
Harness made six senior appearances for the Addicks that season, including an EFL Trophy fixture against MK Dons at The Valley in January 2022. The goalkeeper shutout MK Dons that evening, helping Charlton to a 1-0 victory – now-Dons winger Jonathan Leko was the scorer of the decisive goal.
Shortly after that game, Harness joined Welling United on loan before returning to The Valley and making his professional league debut in Charlton’s final game of the 2021/22 season.
Last season, Harness spent time with National League outfit Bromley while also making three EFL Trophy appearances for his parent club, keeping a clean sheet in the first of those – a 3-0 victory over Gillingham.
Harness is set to leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expires at the end of June, choosing MK Dons as his next destination.
MK Dons Head Coach Graham Alexander said: “This summer, we are looking for players who fit a certain criteria – players who have been there and done it and that we feel can lead the group, but also young and hungry players who bring an energy and motivation to get their career up and running.
“Nathan is a young player with great potential. He’s got good stature and he’s a goalkeeper who is really focused on keeping clean sheets before everything else.
“He’s not a kid who we want to develop over a number of years – we expect him to come in and compete for a first-team spot right here and right now.”
