[themaclad]

Striker Luke Norris is among five players released by Stevenage having won promotion back to League One.

The 29-year-old scored 10 goals in 28 league games as Stevenage finished second in League Two to win promotion.

Midfielder Jack Taylor, who played 53 games in all competitions, and 27-year-old defender Max Clark have also been released by manager Steve Evans.

Centre-back Michael Bostwick and goalkeeper Adam Przybek are the other players not to be offered new deals.

Stevenage say they are "discussing terms" with five out-of-contract players - Terence Vancooten, Luther James-Wildin, Jake Reeves, Jake Forster-Caskey and Josh March.

[themaclad]

Stevenage forward Elliott List has agreed a new contract despite playing only one game this season.

List went off with a knee injury in the first half of their opening match, a 2-1 win at Tranmere last July.

And the 26-year-old was unable to play any further part as Steve Evans' side won promotion from League Two.

He has made over 100 appearances since joining the club in 2019 and his new deal will cover next season and also has an option for a further 12 months.

"I'm looking forward to playing in League One," he told the Boro website.

"With my unfortunate injury at the start of last season, it's great that the club showed their confidence in me - I'm back fully fit now and delighted to get the deal signed."

[themaclad]

Newly promoted Stevenage have made their first signings of the summer after agreeing terms with midfielders Nick Freeman and Alex MacDonald.

Freeman, 27, will join his hometown club after seven seasons and 178 appearances with Wycombe Wanderers.

MacDonald, 33, played 55 games for Gillingham in 2022-23, scoring twice, and had been offered a new deal by the League Two club.

He previously played under boss Steve Evans for the Gills and Mansfield.

The length of the pair's contracts with Stevenage have not been revealed.

Freeman helped Wycombe win the League One play-off final in 2020, when they beat Oxford United at Wembley.

"This is my local club, so it's an exciting time for me," he said of his move to the Lamex Stadium.

MacDonald began his career at Burnley and his former clubs also include Burton Albion and Oxford.

Stevenage will play in League One next season for the first time in a decade after finishing this season in second place in the table, clinching one of the three automatic promotion spots.

[themaclad]

Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni has agreed a "new and improved" deal with the newly promoted League One club.

The 31-year-old made 55 appearances, scoring eight goals, as Steve Evans' side won automatic promotion.

Piergianni, who arrived from Oldham following the 2021-22 season, was named in the League Two team of the season.

The length of his new contract has not been disclosed by Boro, who have signed midfielders Nick Freeman and Alex MacDonald ahead of next season.

[themaclad]

League One newcomers Stevenage have signed defender Nathan Thompson after he was released by Peterborough United.

The 32-year-old made 131 appearances in four years with Posh.

The ex-Swindon and Portsmouth defender helped Peterborough to promotion from League One in 2021 and featured 40 times for them last season as they reached the third-tier play-offs.

"I've had good discussions with the manager about what we are looking to achieve this season," Thompson said.

"Having played against Stevenage numerous times, it's always been a tough game. Now, I'm looking forward to being on the other side and seeing what we can achieve."

Stevenage finished second in League Two last season to end their nine-year stay in English football's fourth tier.

[themaclad]

Stevenage defender Luther James-Wildin has agreed a new contract with the League One club.

The 25-year-old made 46 appearances last season as Steve Evans' side won automatic promotion by finishing second in League Two.

His only goal came in his penultimate game of the campaign, a 2-0 home win over Grimsby Town.

James-Wildin joined Boro from Nuneaton in 2018 and is about to play in the third tier for first time.

The length of his new deal has not been disclosed but he follows skipper Carl Piergianni in committing his future to the club.

[themaclad]

Stevenage have signed goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond from Fulham on a permanent deal after a season on loan with the club.

The 24-year-old joined the now League One club on loan last June while they were in the fourth tier.

He kept 13 clean sheets in 29 appearances during their promotion-winning campaign from League Two.

Ashby-Hammond did not play for Fulham's first team, with further loan spells at Maidenhead United and Boreham Wood.

[themaclad]

Stevenage centre-back Terence Vancooten has signed a new two-year deal with the newly promoted League One side.

The 25-year-old was out of contract this summer and agreed to stay with the Hertfordshire club, who say they were "competing with several high-profile clubs for his signature".

Guyana international Vancooten has made 176 appearances in six seasons with Stevenage.

He featured 38 times as they went up as League Two runners-up last season.

Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said recruitment plans would soon turn to "adding experienced League One players" to the squad after keeping a core of the promotion-winning side together.

"Leon Hunter [director of football] and Steve Evans [manager] have patiently been putting the majority of the team from last year back together, with some important improvements," he told the club website.

"Signing Taye Ashby-Hammond on a permanent from Fulham and doing new two-year deals for Luther, Terence and Jake Forster-Caskey means 10 of last season's squad will be with us next season and beyond."

[themaclad]

Stevenage have signed winger Harry Anderson following his release by Bristol Rovers.

The 26-year-old is the fifth signing made by Boro since winning promotion from League Two.

He spent two years with Rovers and made 30 appearances for Joey Barton's side last season, scoring once.

"It's a really good setup. I'm here to enjoy my football, get in the best shape possible and have a real good go this season," he said.

Details of Anderson's contract with Stevenage have not been disclosed.

He began his career at Peterborough and spent four years with Lincoln City before joining Rovers in 2021 and has played more than 100 games in League One.

[themaclad]

Stevenage have agreed a deal to sign midfielder Louis Thompson.

The 28-year-old made 19 appearances for Portsmouth last season, scoring one goal, after recovering from a broken leg suffered early in the campaign.

He is the younger brother of Nathan Thompson, who joined the League One newcomers earlier this month.

"This is a club with lots of momentum. We have aspirations of surprising a few this year, and I believe in the project," Thompson said.