AFC Wimbledon keen on signing Crystal Palace defender

AFC Wimbledon are keen on signing Crystal Palace defender Kofi Balmer, the South London Press understands.

The 23-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan with League One side Port Vale before his spell was brought to an end at the start of the January transfer window.

Johnnie Jackson’s side are in the market for a defender after Ryan Johnson was forced off in the first half of their 3-1 defeat at Milton Keynes.

Lee Brown started alongside Joe Lewis during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Mansfield.

Balmer, who was named in the Northern Ireland senior squad in 2022 for their games against Kosovo and Greece under Ian Baraclough, already has over 100 appearances at senior level to his name after coming through at Ballymena before moving to Larne.

He featured 16 times for Port Vale this season.

The Dons have already loaned John-Kymani Gordon from the Eagles this transfer window.