Dons sign Pompey keeper and Brighton defender on loan

AFC Wimbledon have bolstered their squad with the addition of two new players on loan for the remainder of the current season. Goalkeeper Joe Bursik arrives from Championship side Portsmouth, while defender Freddie Simmonds joins from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Bursik, who is 26 years old, has a long history with the Dons, having started his career in the club's academy at the age of eight before leaving for Stoke City at 16. During his time at Stoke in the 2020-21 Championship season, Bursik made 16 appearances and kept an impressive seven clean sheets. He then played for a series of lower-league clubs including Telford, Accrington, Doncaster Rovers, and Peterborough United on loan before signing with Pompey in September 2025.

Bursik made 10 league appearances for the Dons, including a notable outing against Arsenal in their FA Cup third-round defeat at Fratton Park. He expressed his delight at returning to Plough Lane, calling it a "full circle moment" filled with good memories.

Defender Freddie Simmonds, on the other hand, is a 18-year-old talent who has yet to play a first-team game for Brighton. The young player, who has been with Brighton since the age of six, has, however, had more experience representing his country, having played for the England Under-16, Under-17, and Under-18 teams. Simmonds has also represented England in the European Under-17 Championship and the Under-17 World Cup.