Milton Keynes Dons have terminated Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's contract by mutual consent after he was charged with assault by beating. The 34-year-old winger, who joined from Derby County in May 2025, has denied the charge and is due to stand trial at Cannock Magistrates' Court on 7 January 2027.
The decision brings an end to a spell in which Mendez-Laing made 29 appearances for MK Dons and scored nine goals. It is a notable move for a club that finished as runners-up in League Two last season and won promotion, and it removes a player who had been part of that successful campaign.
MK Dons bring the agreement to an end
MK Dons confirmed the contract had been ended by mutual consent and thanked the player for his contribution at Stadium MK. The club said: "We thank Nathaniel for his efforts during his time at Stadium MK and wish him all the best for the future."
That is a straightforward football decision, but it comes against a far more serious backdrop off the pitch. Mendez-Laing appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court on 25 September, where he denied the assault by beating charge.
A short but productive spell on the pitch
Mendez-Laing's record for MK Dons was significant. In 29 matches, he scored nine goals after arriving from Derby County, offering end product at a time when the club were pushing for promotion.
He has also previously played for Rochdale, Cardiff and Peterborough, and represented England at youth level. On the field, his spell in Buckinghamshire added another productive chapter to a career that has already taken him across several levels of the game.
For MK Dons, the key issue now is moving on without a player who contributed to last season's promotion-winning side. For Mendez-Laing, the next major date is the January 2027 trial, which will now sit at the centre of proceedings away from football.
