Wimbledon sign ex-Preston defender Bauer on free

Patrick Bauer made 105 appearances for Preston North End

AFC Wimbledon have signed ex-Charlton Athletic and Preston North End defender Patrick Bauer on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old German left Preston this summer after six years at Deepdale, where he made 105 appearances and scored seven goals.

Bauer has signed a one-year contract and becomes Johnnie Jackson's ninth summer signing following the Dons' promotion to League One.

"I'm really happy to be here, it's been a while since I've played in London and I can't wait to get going, meet the players and the staff," he told Wimbledon's website.

Bauer began his career at Stuttgart before joining Portuguese club Maritimo on a permanent transfer in 2013.

He joined Charlton two years later and experienced relegation to League One and promotion back to the Championship with the Addicks, scoring a memorable added-time goal to win the League One play-off final against Sunderland in 2019.

The match at Wembley would be his final appearance for the club before moving to Preston for the following season.

Wimbledon are next in action at home to Barnsley in League One on Saturday.