Dan Kemp has signed a new extended contract at Stevenage, agreeing new terms which will see his deal run until the summer of 2028.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Beginning the season in lightning-quick form, Kemp quickly hit the front by sealing their victory at Blackpool on the opening day. And he played a crucial role in making it 3 wins from 3 against Northampton Town. Opening the scoring in the 67th minute, he then provided the crucial ball to seal the game, assisting debutant Gassan Ahadme.
And before the international break, the 26-year-old notched another assist as they eased past Luton Town. Despite his goalscoring slowing in recent weeks, Kemp has still had a huge role to play in Stevenage’s excellent start, which has them tucked inside the automatic promotion places. Given they were tipped to be nowhere near the top of League One, huge credit must go to all those in Hertfordshire for this storming start.
Born in South East London, Kemp was in the academies of Chelsea and West Ham United in his youth. Signing his first professional deal in July 2016, he got his first taste of the EFL with Stevenage early in 2020. That was after netting 22 times in East London at the highest level of the Hammers’ academy.
#StevenageFC have agreed a new & improved contract with Dan Kemp that runs until June 2028. 📝 pic.twitter.com/QEz6lnVvfI
— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) October 20, 2025
But, with the season cut prematurely short, the attacking midfielder only played 6 times for the League Two outfit. A loan at Blackpool was also cut short for differing reasons, before Kemp departed West Ham permanently for nearby Leyton Orient, back in the fourth tier. While hardly lighting up the division, he netted 5 times in half a season, falling just shy of half a century of appearances.
Similarly, his time at Milton Keynes Dons failed to show what was just around the corner. But, it was during temporary spells at Hartlepool United and Swindon Town that he lit the division on fire. Winning the divisional Player of the Month award in February 2023, he bagged 9 times in 16 games during a temporary spell at the former.
Delighted to sign a new deal @StevenageFC ✅🔴. Looking forward to the future 👏
Thank you @elite_mgmt ❤️ https://t.co/o4B6pI4TEp
— Dan Kemp (@DanKemp11) October 20, 2025
In Wiltshire, Kemp hit an incredible 14 goals and 8 assists in the first half of the season. Inevitably, MK Dons recalled him in the winter window, though his impact back in Buckinghamshire was nowhere near as effective, adding 3 goals. Nevertheless, he won the Robins Player of the Season award for his contributions at Swindon earlier in the campaign.
Stevenage signed him as a free agent after being released by MK in the summer of 2024. And for the second season in a row, Kemp won the POTS award. Finishing the campaign as top goalscorer, he once again hit double figures in 40 League One appearances.
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Having been knocked off the top of the League One table on Saturday afternoon, Boro will be keen for a response. Losing for just the second time this season at Lincoln City on Saturday, they still have at least 1 game in hand on most sides around them in the table. With progress already secured in the Vertu Trophy, tomorrow evening’s encounter against Crystal Palace U21’s will almost certainly see Kemp rested.
All eyes will therefore be on Saturday afternoon, with another top-of-the-table clash for Alex Revell’s side against Bradford City. Although he grabbed an assist 2 games ago against the Hatters, Kemp will be keen to end his 8-game goal drought versus the Bantams. Regardless, penning down one of their key assets is crucial for the future, with all eyes now set on continuing their unlikely push for promotion to the Championship.
