National League news - July 2025

BBC Sport tracks the latest news stories from the National League, including managerial announcements, new signings and contract extensions.

Check out the gossip page for the latest rumours, use our transfers page to track signings made by English Football League clubs or read more National League news from June.

The National League Cup groups have been confirmed for the 2025-26 season.

The 32-club competition will be made up of 16 sides from the National League and 16 from PL2.

Leeds United beat Sutton United in last season's final.

Group A: Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Everton, Manchester United, Morecambe, Rochdale, Solihull Moors, Tamworth

Group B: Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Braintree Town, Brackley Town, Forest Green Rovers, Wealdstone

Group C: Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Southampton, West Ham United, Aldershot Town, Sutton, Truro City, Woking

Group D: Leeds, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Boston United, Halifax Town, Gateshead, Scunthorpe United

York City have signed Gateshead midfielder Greg Olley and Hartlepool United forward Joe Grey, with Minstermen defender Cameron John joining Pools on a season-long loan.

Olley has moved south to York after helping Heed regain National League status in 2021-22 and win the FA Trophy in 2023-24.

Forward Grey, 22, made 155 appearances for Pools, scoring 24 goals in all competitions.

John, 25, played 33 times for last season's National League runners-up and has EFL experience with Doncaster Rovers and Rochdale.

Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson has joined Altrincham on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old, who recently signed a new two-year contract with the League One side, will step into the gap left by an anterior cruciate ligament injury to Ethan Ross.

Solihull Moors have signed midfielder Darius Lipsiuc from Championship club Stoke City in a five-month loan deal.

The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has played once for the Potters' first team - against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup in September 2024.

He spent the second half of last season on loan with League Two Walsall but did not make an appearance.

Wealdstone defender Anthony Georgiou has signed a one-year contract extension.

The 28-year-old has made 36 appearances for the Stones, scoring one goal.

Midfielder Jordan Cousins has signed for Eastleigh following his release by Cambridge United.

The 31-year-old scored two goals in 71 appearances for the U's, having previously played for Charlton Athletic, QPR, Stoke City and Wigan Athletic.

Scunthorpe United have signed York City attacker Billy Chadwick on a six-month loan.

The 25-year-old has made 39 appearances in 18 months with the Minstermen, scoring four goals.

Aldershot Town have signed defender James Clarridge on loan from Championship side Watford.

The 21-year-old has represented England at age group level and spent the end of last season on loan with St Albans City.

Eastleigh have signed midfielder Josh Lundstram following his departure from Oldham Athletic.

The 26-year-old made 40 appearances in the Latics' promotion-winning campaign last season.

Hartlepool United have become the latest side to turn down an entry into this season's National League Cup.

In a club statement, Pools said, external that their focus is on "achieving success in the league."

Carlisle United, Yeovil Town, York City, Eastleigh, Altrincham and Southend United have already announced that they are not participating in the competition.

Former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker Andy Carroll has joined sixth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer.

Carroll has signed a reported three-year deal with the National League South club after leaving Bordeaux last month.

The 36-year-old departed the French fourth-tier club after just a season because he wanted to be closer to his children.

Carroll said in an interview with Sky Sports, external that he had "clubs ringing me up from higher leagues" but it was important that he moved to a team which was the "right fit".

"It doesn't matter the level, or anything, as long as I get on the pitch and play football, that's all that matters," Carroll said.

Forest Green Rovers have signed Grenada striker Kairo Mitchell following his release by Rochdale.

The 27-year-old Leicester City youth product scored 32 goals in 70 games over the last two seasons for Dale after joining them from Notts County in 2023.

Brackley Town have signed defender Michael Nottingham after his exit from Scottish club Livingstone.

The 36-year-old has previously had spells at Salford City, Blackpool and Accrington Stanley.

Hartlepool United have signed defender Maxim Kouogun on a two-year deal from Scunthorpe United.

Cameroon-born Kouogun, 28, played 47 games last season and scored three goals as the Iron won promotion from National League North.

Tamworth have signed former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Stefan Mols.

The 26-year-old Spaniard joins from National League North side Curzon Ashton.

Carlisle United have signed Josh Grant on a one-year deal after the defender rejected the offer of a new contract with Wealdstone.

The 26-year-old began his career in the Chelsea youth academy and has previously had spells at Yeovil Town, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers.

Rochdale have signed Manchester City youth academy goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff on a season-long loan.

The 17-year-old made 30 appearances in all competitions for City's reserve side last season and has appeared for England at Under-18 level.

Wealdstone have signed midfielder Dylan Kadji from Weston-super-Mare on a two-year contract.

The 21-year-old made 43 appearances in National League South for the Seagulls last season.

Rochdale have signed former Oldham midfielder Joe Pritchard on a one-year deal.

The 28-year-old scored in two of the Latics' three play-off games last season as they won promotion to League Two.

Forest Green Rovers have signed forward Jayden Clarke on a permanent deal following his release from Gillingham at the end of last season.

The 24-year-old, who scored seven goals in 33 League Two games last season, has also had spells with non-league sides Dulwich Hamlet, Bedfont Sports and Hendon.

The club have also signed Coventry City midfielder Isaac Moore on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has yet to make his debut for the Sky Blues, but has featured as an unused substitute four times in the Championship last season.

Wealdstone forward Micah Obiero has signed a new contract with the club.

The 24-year-old has made 105 appearances in three seasons with the Stones.

Halifax Town have signed striker Will Harris following his departure from National League North side Spennymoor Town.

Harris, 24, had two seasons with the Moors after previously spending a year with Gateshead.

Gateshead have signed goalkeeper Pete Jameson as player-coach and have immediately sent him on loan to Darlington for the 2025-26 season.

Jameson, 32, returns to Darlington where he spent last season, but signs with a recall option in Gateshead's favour from January.

Boston United have re-signed Greg Sloggett on a one-year deal and brought in fellow midfielder Rocco Coyle on loan from Hull City until January.

Sloggett helped the Pilgrims avoid relegation last season during a loan spell from National League rivals Hartlepool, who released the 29-year-old at the end of the season.

Coyle, 18, is yet to make a first-team appearance for Hull, but started 19 times for the Tigers' Under-21 side last term.

Southend United have signed defender Ben Goodliffe on a free transfer from Colchester United.

The 26-year-old played 22 games while on loan with the Shrimpers during the 2024-25 campaign.

Solihull Moors have appointed experienced former Wolves and Ipswich assistant manager Terry Connor as boss Matt Taylor's number two.

Connor, 62, had a short spell as interim Wolves manager in February 2012 following Mick McCarthy's sacking before linking back up with the former Republic of Ireland boss at Portman Road nine months later.

He will combine his role as head coach of Grenada with working alongside Taylor, who called Connor's arrival "fantastic".

Rochdale have brought in midfielder Casey Pettit on a two-year deal from Maidenhead United.

Pettit, 22, made 91 appearances across two seasons for Maidenhead and he becomes Dale's seventh summer acquisition.

Eastleigh have signed Bournemouth's Archie Harris on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old left-footed full-back came through the Cherries academy and previously spent time on loan at Poole Town and Torquay.

Gateshead have signed defender Callum Johnson on a one-year deal.

The 28-year-old spent last season with Bradford City and made 11 appearances in all competitions.

Hartlepool United have signed forward Jermaine Francis for an undisclosed fee from last season's National League winners Barnet.

Grenada international Francis, 23, spent the majority of last season on loan at Braintree Town, scoring eight goals in 30 games for them.

Boston United have signed former Aston Villa and Leicester City midfielder Arjan Raikhy, 22, on a two-year deal.

Raikhy made three first-team appearances for the Foxes and has spent time on loan with Grimsby Town, Stockport County and Tamworth.

Rochdale have signed striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old was a free agent after leaving Hartlepool at the end of last season having scored 40 goals in 85 National League appearances for them.

Hartlepool United have signed striker Danny Johnson after his contract expired with League Two side Walsall.

Johnson, 32, who was on Pools' books as a youngster without playing for the first-team, scored 29 goals in 88 appearances for the Saddlers.

Boreham Wood have signed defender Jeff King on a six-month loan from fellow National League side York City.

The 29-year-old joined the Minstermen in November and made 12 appearances for the club last season.

Rochdale have signed defender David Tutonda on a one-year deal ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 National League campaign.

The 29-year-old joins having played 42 games for Morecambe last season.

Boston United have signed Alex Lankshear on a two-year deal after the left-back was released by League One side Blackpool at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old spent much of the 2024-25 season in the National League, playing for both Welling and Ebbsfleet on loan.

Forest Green Rovers have signed goalkeeper Luke McNicholas from Wrexham on a permanent deal.

The 25-year-old played three games for Wrexham, all in the EFL Trophy, and spent last season on loan with Rochdale, keeping six clean sheets in nine matches.

Newly promoted Truro City have announced midfielder Dominic Johnson-Fisher has signed a new contract.

The 22-year-old joined the Tinners in January 2024 and helped the club win the National League South title last term clinching their place in the National League for 2025-26.

Eastleigh midfielder Connor Underhill has signed a new contract with the club.

The 19-year-old signed his first professional deal in late 2024 and made 11 National League appearances last season.

Meanwhile, Spitfires midfielder Malachi Dotse, 20, has left the club by mutual agreement.

Aldershot Town's Hady Ghandour has signed a new contract with the club for the 25/26 season.

The forward has scored three times in 32 appearances since joining in 2023.

Southend United have signed Harry Boyes on a two-year deal after the left wing-back was released by Sheffield United at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old's only first-team appearance for the Blades came in the EFL Cup last season, with the defender spending previous years on loan at numerous clubs such as Fleetwood, Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers.

Yeovil Town have signed midfielder James Daly on a one-year deal from Harrogate Town.

The 25-year-old began his career at Crystal Palace and also had spells at Stevenage and Bristol Rovers.

Boreham Wood have made midfielder Aaron Henry their second signing of the summer.

The 21-year-old was a free agent after leaving Charlton Athletic.

Boston United have signed striker Kieren Donnelly from non-league side Halesowen Town on a two-year deal.

The 24-year-old scored 50 goals in more than 100 appearances for the Southern League Central Premier Division side.

Rochdale have signed midfielder Anthony Mancini on a one-year deal.

The Frenchman, 24, spent the last two seasons with Hartlepool United, playing 39 games and scoring five goals.

Forest Green Rovers have signed defender Laurent Mendy, right winger Tre Pemberton and forward Neil Kengni on permanent deals from Macclesfield FC for undisclosed fees.

The National League North trio all link up with their former manager Robbie Savage who moved to the Gloucestershire club on 1 July.

Aldershot Town have signed midfielder Jed Meerholz on loan from Championship club Bristol City until January 2026.

The 19-year-old has been with the Robins since he was seven years old and has been named in the first-team matchday squad four times.

Solihull Moors have signed defender Oscar Rutherford from Dagenham & Redbridge.

The former Plymouth Argyle academy player, 21, has moved for an undisclosed fee.

The Moors have also agreed to terminate the contract of midfielder John Bostock.

The 33-year-old and the club have had "amicable" discussions over ending the player's deal early after he joined the Moors on a two-year deal last summer.

Gateshead have confirmed Charlie Colkett, Harrison Bond and Ryan Bartley have all left the club at the end of their contracts.

Goalkeeper Bond, 21, made two appearances for the club, while defender Bartley, 24, and midfielder Colkett, 28, featured nine and 18 times respectively.

Boreham Wood have made defender Joe Newton their first signing of the summer.

Left-back Newton, 24, has left Solihull Moors after a two-year spell. He previously spent time in Coventry City's academy.

Boston United have signed veteran striker Lenell John-Lewis on a one-year deal.

The 36-year-old spent the past three and a half seasons with York City and scored 26 goals in 114 National League appearances for the Minstermen.

Scunthorpe United have signed former Leicester City midfielder Oliver Ewing and ex-Gateshead defender Jean Belehouan.

Ewing, 22, made 19 appearances during a loan spell with National League North side Buxton last season and has signed a one-year deal.

Belehouan, 24, played 24 times in the National League for the Heed in 2024-25.

Braintree Town have signed forward Freddie Hockey.

The 19-year-old joins from Chelmsford City where he scored three goals in 23 appearances last season. Hockey began his career at Colchester United.