Striker Pigott and goalkeeper Ward join Wimbledon

Joe Pigott struggled to make an impact at Leyton Orient last season - scoring just two goals in 36 League One appearances

AFC Wimbledon have signed goalkeeper Lewis Ward and added former striker Joe Pigott on a season-long loan.

Pigott, 30, moves from Leyton Orient, having scored 54 goals in 157 games during a three-and-a-half year spell with the Dons that ended when he joined Ipswich Town in the summer of 2021.

He scored the first goal at the new Plough Lane in November 2020 against Doncaster Rovers and was the club's Player of the Year in his final season.

Ward, 27, joins on a one-year contract after being released by Charlton earlier this summer.

"To come back is amazing but I have so much more to give and achieve with this club," Pigott told the Wimbledon website.

"Wimbledon means a lot to me and my family, so it’s hard not to be emotional when I talk about the support that the fans have always shown me."

Lewis Ward reached the League Two play-offs with Forest Green in 2019 and Exeter in 2020

Ward has made 63 League Two appearances across his time with Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City, Sutton United and Swindon but did not feature for the Addicks in League One.

"It's an exciting challenge to come into," Ward told Wimbledon's website.

"You want to have healthy competition between two goalkeepers who are pushing each other and working hard to win the shirt.

"Hopefully whoever comes in next can help to strengthen the group and we can drive each other on."

Former Crystal Palace coach Dave Reddington has also joined the Dons' backroom staff as a replacement for the long-serving Rob Turvey, who departed on Wednesday.