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 at Wembley in 2019 - his final appearance for the club before moving to Preston in 2019.

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