Exclusive: Derby County’s Curtis Nelson undergoing MK Dons medical
Derby County defender Curtis Nelson is having a medical at MK Dons ahead of a permanent move, sources have told Football Insider.
The 32-year-old centre-back has agreed to join the League Two club after they had a bid accepted by Derby.
Football Insider recently revealed that multiple EFL clubs were interested in Nelson this month, including Plymouth and Mansfield.
Derby have now given the green light to him moving to Milton Keynes after Nelson fell down the pecking order at the Rams under John Eustace, and with his contract up at the end of the season.
MK Dons boss Paul Warne is a big fan of Nelson, with the manager previously coaching the defender during his time at Pride Park.
One year of Curtis Nelson, our reigning Jack Stamps Player of the Season! 😍👑#DCFC pic.twitter.com/znKHvTmBkz
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) June 23, 2024
Curtis Nelson’s aerial threat to complement MK Don’s set-piece ability
With MK Dons aiming to reach League One this season, their set-piece threat is something that has been vital to this push.
So far this campaign, they have netted 14 times from dead-ball situations, and Nelson’s aerial threat will help add to this.
According to Fotmob on 14 January, last season in the Championship, the centre-back was averaging 0.07 goals from 0.67 shots a match.
Curtis Nelson’s unstoppable header. 😍
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) October 23, 2025
🔜 QPR (H) pic.twitter.com/Dye6o7KCGc
This helped Derby County stay in the Championship under Eustace as they established themselves back in the second tier.
Now, Warne will be looking to utilise this threat in League Two.
Nelson has previous League Two experience
Despite playing the majority of his recent career in the Championship, Nelson has experience in League Two.
The defender started his career at Plymouth Argyle as they fell down to the fourth tier in the 2010s.
- Nelson started his career at Plymouth where he helped stabilise the club in League Two
- The defender has since played for Oxford United, Cardiff City, Blackpool and Derby County
- At the Rams, Nelson won their Player of the Year award for the 2023-24 campaign as they won promotion to the Championship
Here, he spent five campaigns in League Two, but was unable to send the Pilgrims back into League One, losing the playoff final to AFC Wimbledon in his final match for Plymouth.
Since then, he has mainly been playing in the Championship, with Nelson even at Blackpool in their last stint in the second tier.
Now, Warne will be hoping to use Nelson’s experience in the EFL to pull the Dons back into League One as soon as possible.