Curtis Nelson

Nelson's current-season form is level with last season (Season 12→12), while his Rating held around 10. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 61).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Milton Keynes Dons · 14th	2	0	0	6.75	10	12
2025/26	Milton Keynes Dons · 2nd	18	2	1	7.19	10	12
2025/26	Derby · 8th	2	0	0	6.7	12	1
2024/25	Derby · 19th	27	2	1	6.99	31	26
2023/24	Derby · 2nd	46	2	0	7.08	33	61
2022/23	Blackpool · 23rd	27	1	0	6.82	38	30
2022/23	Cardiff	9	0	0	6.82	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 12 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

C. Nelson is a 33-year-old central defender at Milton Keynes Dons, enjoying a standout season — 2 goals and 1 assists in 18 appearances, a Season grade of 12. On long-term scout potential he's rated 9.7. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option (35.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.41 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nelson.

On the season, Nelson graded 12 for current form (age-blind), on 5 clean sheets and 2.412 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 12 → 12). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 10. At 33 Nelson is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2023/24StreakyStepped up 2024/25Injury-hit 2025/264 clubs

9.7

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

12.3

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

35.1%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.41

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Milton Keynes Dons finished 2nd of 24 · a title-challenging side

Apps

2.41

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.41 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 5 clean sheets across 18 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 24) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.19 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.

Watch points

Game time. Only 35.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 9.7 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.41 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %35.1%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.124

Assists / 900.062

Goal contribution / 900.186

Defensive actions / 902.412

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Cards / 900.124

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~4), then tapers with age. At 33, Nelson sits on 0.6, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Nelson's projected Rating — 9.7 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles19

Interceptions9

Blocks11

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

Milton Keynes DonsJan 2026 – now

DerbyJul 2023 – Jan 2026Free

BlackpoolJan 2023 – Jul 2023Free

CardiffJul 2019 – Jan 2023

Oxford UnitedJul 2016 – Jul 2019Free

Plymouthuntil Jul 2016

About C. Nelson

Curtis Alexander Nelson is a 33-year-old centre-back who plays for Milton Keynes Dons, born on May 21, 1993 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, standing 183 cm tall. He is from England. Milton Keynes Dons currently sit 14th of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, C. Nelson has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 180 minutes.

C. Nelson's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Milton Keynes Dons face Leicester at home in the League One.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates C. Nelson at 9.7 with a Season form score of 12.3. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 17 recorded seasons, C. Nelson has totalled 557 club appearances with 25 goals and 2 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2015/16, with 49 appearances for Plymouth.

C. Nelson's career has also included time at Derby, Blackpool, Cardiff, Oxford United and Plymouth.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.