Peterborough United have completed the signings of midfielder Liam Kelly, winger Ethan Williams and forward Vernon Masara, the club announced on 13 August, with all three arriving for undisclosed fees on long-term deals.

Kelly brings experience from a League One rival

The most eyebrow-raising piece of business is the arrival of Kelly, 30, from fellow third-tier club MK Dons. The midfielder spent two years at Stadium MK, winning player of the season and players' player of the season awards while helping the club win promotion last term. He was also named in the 2025-26 League Two team of the season, so Posh are acquiring a player at the top of his game in the lower divisions.

With more than 300 career appearances behind him, Kelly is exactly the kind of seasoned, high-volume midfielder that can anchor a third-tier engine room. Whether Peterborough have simply outbid a rival or persuaded him that London Road is the right next step, the deal represents a direct transfer of quality within League One and will raise a few eyebrows at Stadium MK.

Williams: a sizeable outlay on a young winger

Ethan Williams, 20, arrives from Manchester United, with Posh describing the fee as "sizeable" — which is the club's way of signalling ambition without quoting a number. Williams never made a senior start at Old Trafford and joined the club's pre-season tour of Finland, Norway and Sweden without earning a first-team opportunity. A loan spell at League Two Cheltenham Town and a more recent stint at Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, where he made 22 appearances, gave him experience that Old Trafford's development pathway alone could not.

Williams was characteristically straightforward about his reasons for moving. "I have enjoyed my time at United and it's always tough to leave a place like that," he said, "but there comes a time in your career where you have to make tough decisions to develop yourself and Peterborough is renowned for helping younger players." That last line reads slightly like a press-release flourish, but the sentiment behind it is credible enough: Posh have a reasonable track record of turning players released by bigger clubs into sellable assets.

Manager Luke Williams described the winger as "quick, direct and will be a threat." No tactical flourish there, just a straightforward promise to the terraces.

Masara: raw potential from Burnley's academy

The third signing, Vernon Masara, 19, comes from Burnley's academy and has yet to make an EFL appearance. He is the most speculative of the three additions. Luke Williams said Masara could operate "across the attacking positions," which usually means the club are not entirely sure where he fits best but believe the raw material is worth developing. Burnley's academy has produced players of genuine quality in recent years, so there is logic in the punt, even if it will take time to see a return.

What this means for Peterborough's season

Three signings in a single announcement suggests Posh are moving with purpose ahead of what they will hope is a competitive League One campaign. Kelly's experience gives the squad some steel in midfield; Williams offers a creative threat out wide if he can convert loan-circuit form into consistent third-tier contributions; and Masara, at 19, is a longer-term project.

The fees are undisclosed across the board, so gauging the overall outlay is impossible from the outside. What is clear is that the club have committed to long-term contracts for all three, which signals belief in the group rather than a short-term fix. Whether that investment translates into a promotion push remains to be seen, but as a statement of intent it is hard to argue with the breadth of it.

Frequently asked

Why did Liam Kelly leave MK Dons for Peterborough?
Kelly joined Peterborough from League One rivals MK Dons for an undisclosed fee. He had spent two years at Stadium MK, winning multiple player of the season awards and earning a place in the 2025-26 League Two team of the season, before making the move to London Road on a long-term deal.
Who is Ethan Williams and what has he done before joining Peterborough?
Ethan Williams is a 20-year-old winger who joined Peterborough from Manchester United for a fee the club described as 'sizeable'. He had loan spells at League Two Cheltenham Town and Scottish Premiership side Falkirk, where he made 22 appearances last season, without ever making a senior start at Old Trafford.
Has Vernon Masara played professional football before signing for Peterborough?
No. Masara, 19, progressed through Burnley's academy but had not made an EFL appearance before joining Peterborough. Manager Luke Williams says he can play across the attacking positions and the club see him as a development project.