Former MK Dons academy player Kevin Danso will stay with Spurs after the Premier League side opted to activate an option in his loan deal to make his move permanent.

The 26-year-old Austrian international defender had joined Spurs on loan from French side Lens in February, and the North London club have now opted to activate an option in his deal to keep him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Danso will join Spurs for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £21million and he has signed a contract of undisclosed length at the club.

The announcement comes on the day when Spurs published their retained list, which confirmed the departures of out-of-contract players Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon and Alfie Whiteman, as well as the departure of loan player Timo Werner and the exit of midfielder Pierre-Emilie Hojbjerg, whose loan move to Marseille will be turned into a full transfer.

Danso made 15 appearances in all competitions after signing for Spurs, including an appearance as a substitute after they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final, earning their first major trophy since 2008 and qualification to next season’s Champions League.

Danso didn’t make a senior appearance for MK Dons but spent several years in the youth academy set-up with the English club after moving to Milton Keynes as a child.

He would leave MK Dons to join German side Augsburg in 2014 as a teenager, making his competitive debut with the side from southern Germany.

After loan spells with Southampton and Fortuna Dusseldorf, he made a permanent move to join French side Lens in 2021, before his consequent move back to England to join Spurs in 2025.

Police have opened a formal investigation regarding two unexplained deaths following a house fire in Bletchley yesterday (30/5).

A 15-year-old girl and a 67-year-old woman sadly died at the scene in St Patrick’s Way in Bletchley, after a fire broke out on Friday afternoon.

Multiple Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service crews attended the fire reported at around 12:05pm yesterday, with Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance Service, and Service and Helicopter Emergency Medical Service crews also attending the incident.

Although firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, they were unfortunately unable to save the two who lost their lives.

The victims’ next of kin have been informed and offered our support.

Although she has not been formally identified, Thames Valley Police confirmed the girl who tragically died was identified by police as Ann Eyre, from Bletchley. Police have asked people to respect her family’s privacy at this incredibly difficult time.

The older woman who sadly died following the fire has also not been formally identified and police are unable to confirm her identity at this time.

Thames Valley Police said, “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims of this tragic fire.

“St Patrick’s Way was closed but reopened yesterday. Thank you to the local residents for your patience and we apologise for any inconvenience.

“Any witnesses or anyone with information should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43250265711.”

Ian Watson has left his position as a First Team Coach at MK Dons to take the role as manager at South Shields.

Watson replaces Elliott Dickman, who left his position with the North East-based club earlier this month, with Watson to take charge of the Mariners in the National League North next season.

The move sees Watson leave after a second spell working with MK Dons, having re-joined the club in March and worked with the club in the final three months of the just completed season.

Watson had first moved to Milton Keynes as part of Mike Williamson’s coaching staff when the former Newcastle defender was appointed as Graham Alexander’s replacement in October 2023.

After leaving Milton Keynes to be part of Williamson’s set-up at Carlisle United in September 2024, Watson left Carlisle when Williamson was ousted in January, and he found himself back in Milton Keynes as part of Ben Gladwin’s coaching team when he was made interim Dons boss after the sacking of Scott Lindsey.

Nicknamed Busty by players and other members of the MK Dons’ set-up, the move sees Watson leave the club, which will be facing a first full season under the management of Paul Warne next season after the arrival of the former Rotherham and Derby boss in April.

In a brief statement, the League Two club said, “MK Dons would like to thank Ian Watson for all his efforts during his time at Stadium MK and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.”

The Dons’ Sporting Director Liam Sweeting said, “In a difficult moment for the Club, I put a call in to Busty, and by that evening he had travelled four hours to Milton Keynes and was in the hotel in our Stadium, ready to help in any way he could. I think that sums up his mentality and willingness to step in and support Ben and the staff at that time.

“His connection with the players and his genuine passion for this Club were evident every single day. While we would have loved for him to stay with us, he starts his own journey of leadership, and I very much look forward to watching this next chapter of his career.

“As we often see, good people join our journey and really connect with this Club – Busty certainly did that. I thank him for all his efforts during his time with us.”

Northampton Town have confirmed the departures of Mitch Pinnock and Aaron McGowan after the pair opted not to renew their contracts.

Both Pinnock and McGowan had been out of contract with the Cobblers at the end of the 2024/25 season and both had been offered new deals to stay at Sixfields.

But Northampton revealed that the duo will depart the club, with the pair leaving after 4 years at the club.

Pinnock and McGowan joined Northampton at the same time, with both leaving Kilmarnock in 2021 to move to Northampton.

30-year-old midfielder Pinnock had played every game for the Cobblers last season, having been voted Men’s Player of the Season. He leaves with a record of 25 goals in 200 appearances in all competitions.

Speaking to the official Northampton Town website, manager Kevin Nolan said a deal couldn’t be reached and he offered his best wishes to Pinnock.

He said, “Mitch had a fantastic season, he played every week but we haven’t been able to reach an agreement. He agreed we made him a fantastic offer but for family reasons he will be heading closer to home. Family is a big part of any decision and if you get something that suits you better closer to home it is a big pull and he leaves with our best wishes. He has been a fantastic servant to the club and we wish him well. We part on good terms.”

Meanwhile, defender McGowan leaves after his own 4 year spell with Northampton. He made 131 appearances in all competitions, including 35 league appearances in the just concluded season.

Nolan said that McGowan’s primary desire had been to relocate to a club closer to his wife and child, who are based in Liverpool, and Nolan said he accepted his reason why.

He said, “I spoke with Aaron and he was brilliant for us. His wife and newborn live in Liverpool and having spoken with his family it will be a lot to take on a new contract with us and it would make it 6 years away from his family if he was to stay here. He said the offer we made was really good but at this stage of his life he wants to be somewhere where he can go home every night to see his family grow up and I fully understand that.”

Reflecting on the loss of both players, Nolan said, “With both players it is nothing to do with the club or the offers, it is location and we part on excellent terms and wish both players all the very best and I can’t thank either player enough and those lads know they can pick up the phone to me any time if they need anything.”

Northampton have previously announced that club captain Jon Guthrie has opted to extend his contract at Sixfields, while they have also made their first three new signings ahead of next season after signing Jack Perkins, Jack Burroughs and Kamarai Swyer.

More signings are expected, with Nolan saying behind-the-scenes discussions on recruiting new players ahead of next season are ongoing.

He said, “I am really happy with where we are at the moment. We have recruitment meetings most days and we have more meetings lined up with players and agents. We are ready to keep moving forward and the most important thing is bringing players in who want to be with us and be part of who we are and what we are.”