AFC Wimbledon will hope history does not repeat itself with summer recruit: View | OneFootball

Callum Maycock is Wimbledon's latest summer recruit, but will this prove to be third time lucky when signing a former Solihull Moors player

Highlights

Callum Maycock has become AFC Wimbledon's latest summer recruit, signing for the club from Solihull Moors on a free transfer.

The midfielder has signed a two-year deal at the Dons and will be the third player that has joined the South West Londoners from the Birmingham-based side.

But having experienced the complete failure of Kyle Hudlin's loan, and the so-far disappointment of Josh Kelly following his permanent move in January of this year, will Maycock prove to be third time lucky for the Plough Lane outfit?

Callum Maycock signs for AFC Wimbledon

The 26-year-old signed for Wimbledon following the expiry of his contract at Solihull Moors, having spent the past four seasons with the side.

Moors' recent failure to gain promotion to the EFL via the National League playoffs was likely the deciding factor in his decision to leave the club for pastures new, but it would be harsh not to mention the fact that his performances for Moors over his four years' service to the club have been deserving of an EFL move.

Described by many Solihull fans as a brilliant box-to-box midfielder who has a knack for arriving late into the box and scoring goals, Maycock's arrival will be welcomed with open arms by Wimbledon supporters who recently saw Armani Little, a regular in Johnnie Jackson's team last season, depart for Gillingham.

The move came as a fair shock too, with no links appearing to the Birmingham-born midfielder until reports on X from journalists Edmund Brack and Pete O'Rourke confirmed the Dons were signing Maycock.

The links between Solihull and current AFC Wimbledon director of football Craig Cope make this move a very sensible one, with the Dons' transfer guru once again raiding his old side and striking what looks like a great deal.

However, past moves have not always paid off for neither the players that have trodden the path nor the League Two club.

AFC Wimbledon will hope Maycock does not repeat Hudlin, Kelly history

The previous two moves that Wimbledon have made that include Solihull Moors alumni have not quite gone to plan.

Previously, the Dons have had Kyle Hudlin on their books, though on loan from Huddersfield Town not directly from Solihull Moors, as well as the recent, permanent arrival of Josh Kelly.

While both had displayed good form for Moors, when it came to donning the yellow and blue of Wimbledon, Hudlin was a disappointment and Kelly has been a little underwhelming – though there is still time for him to turn some of the doubters around.

When Hudlin came into the side at the start of 2022/23, the Dons wanted him to utilise his height and technical ability, which had been abundant in the National League, to score goals and give them their best shot at promotion.

However, he seemed very uncomfortable playing only one league above the division where he had previously scored 17 goals in 69 games and would see his loan move cut short by the start of the January transfer window.

Kelly, meanwhile, has shown that he looks like he can compete and play comfortably at League Two level but just has not had the service so far from his teammates, with his total for Wimbledon at the end of the season being only two goals from 17 games.

Often expected to try and get on the end of long, lumped, passes from defence and midfield, he is better suited to being a fox-in-the-box or outpacing defenders and running onto low, sliding passes from those around him.

Both Wimbledon and Maycock will hope to prove this move is a case of third-time lucky. If he performs as he has done for Moors this season, then he will instantly become a hit with fans and could become the perfect partner in crime for club captain Jake Reeves.