National League clubs have once again been busy strengthening their squads ahead of the 2025/26 season. Although not much money has been spent on transfer fees, that doesn’t mean clubs from the English top tier haven’t been bringing in players.
Here are some of the top signings of the summer by National League clubs:
David Ajiboye (Carlisle United)
Having suffered relegation to the fifth-tier last season, Carlisle United need all the quality they can get for a quick return to the EFL.
Ajiboye, who joined on a free transfer from Peterborough, has shown flashes of his quality in the English lower leagues.
Despite being contracted to League One Posh, the right winger’s most successful season came in the 2018/19 season, when he scored 21 goals in 45 games across all competitions for Isthmian League Premier Division side Woking.
The former Brighton youth prospect has previously played for Sutton United in the National League, earlier in his career, and also spent the second half of the 2024/25 season with York City in the fifth tier.
Jack Price (Brackley Town)
The former Wolves youngster is one of the more intriguing arrivals in the National League for the 2025/26 season. The midfielder joined Brackley Town from League One Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer.
However, before his time with the Shrews, Price made a name for himself in MLS with the Colorado Rapids. He made 130 appearances for the US outfit from 2018 until 2023 when he joined Shrewsbury.
Price has a good pedigree, having also played in both League One and the Championship with Wolves early in his career. At 32, he will add experience to Town’s midfield for the new season.
Adam Lewis (Chesterfield)
Lewis came through the highly successful youth system at reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. However, he couldn’t quite force his way into the reckoning on Merseyside.
During his time with the Reds, he had loan spells at Amiens, Plymouth Argyle, Livingston and Newport County. In the summer of 2024, Lewis joined Morecambe. In his 52 appearances for the north west outfit in all competitions, he produced seven assists and scored one goal.
The Liverpool-born star’s versatility could also be a big plus for Chesterfield’s attempts at winning promotion, as not only can he play as a full-back, but also as a left-sided midfielder.
Jack Turner (Woking)
Turner started his football career in the youth ranks at Southampton. However, he failed to make the grade with the club from the south coast. He never made it past the club’s U-21 team.
The midfielder spent the 2022/23 season in the National League on loan at Braintree Town. On his release from Southampton in the summer of 2023, he joined Scottish Championship club Queens Park, where he made 90 appearances across all competitions, scoring ten goals.
Woking snapping up Turner this summer on a free transfer could be an inspired move, as at just 22, the former Saints player still has plenty of time to develop his game.
Bevis Mugabi (Carlisle United)
The Harrow-born Uganda international has completed a free transfer from Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta. The experienced centre-back could be a key player for Carlisle in the 2025/26 season.
The 30-year-old spent time in both the Fulham and Southampton academies before joining League Two Yeovil Town in 2016, where he became a regular in the team, making 102 appearances over three years.
His performances for Town attracted the interest of Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell, who he joined in 2019. Mugabi went on to make 125 appearances in all competitions for the Steelmen before his move to Cyprus.
With Carlisle unfamiliar with the fifth-tier of the English game, Mugabi’s experience can only help their defensive play.
Sam Austin (Southend United)
Southend may have got a bargain by signing the 28-year-old as a free agent. The winger has experience not only playing in the National League but also in League Two.
Austin started his professional career at Burton Albion. However, he is best known for a six-year spell with Kidderminster Harriers in the National League North.
After leaving Kiddy in the summer of 2022, he joined Notts County. He helped the Magpies win promotion back to the EFL via a play-off victory. Austin was then a regular in the County team in League Two, although he made only 23 appearances in the English fourth tier during the 2024/25 season.
Jayden Clarke (Forest Green Rovers)
The winger played in the youth ranks at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur. However, upon his release from the north London club, he rebuilt his career in non-league football, firstly with Bedfont Sports.
His form with the club led to spells at Hendon for two years, followed by a stint at Dulwich Hamlet. It was during his time with Dulwich that he earned a move back to the EFL with Gillingham.
We’re pleased to announce the signing of Jayden Clarke on a free transfer 🤝#WeAreFGR💚
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) July 10, 2025
Clarke enjoyed a decent two-season spell with the Gills, making 67 appearances and scoring seven goals. This summer, he joined National League new boys Forest Green Rovers, as the Gloucestershire outfit looks for an instant return to the Football League.
Harry Boyes (Southend United)
Boyes started his youth career with Manchester City, only to make a switch to the Sheffield United academy in 2020. Although promoted to the Blades first-team ranks in 2020, Boyes never made a league appearance for the Yorkshire club.
Instead, he had numerous loan spells at Bradford Park Avenue, Solihull Moors, Forest Green Rovers, Lincoln City, Wycombe Wanderers and Fleetwood Town. In the 2024/25 season, Boyes made his only first-team appearance for Sheffield United, playing in an EFL Cup game. Earlier this summer, Boyes joined Southend on the expiration of his United contract.
At 23, Boyes still has time to fulfil his potential and climb back up the English football pyramid. His loan spells in non-league football during his career will only help his chances of success with Southend, who will be hoping to return to the EFL after play-off heartbreak last season.
David Nugent
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