Charlton Athletic boss still eyeing more attacking deals after swoop for Luton attacker, trio make permanent exits and Dons manager confirms interest in one of Nathan Jones' squad
It's the latest review of the week
It’s the latest review of the week - all the news from the last week involving Charlton Athletic Football Club. This is a busy one!
Millenic Alli has joined the Addicks/Picture: Focus/CAFC
Alli and McNamara the latest incoming deals
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones is still looking for more attacking signings despite adding Luton Town’s Millenic Alli to his squad.
The Addicks confirmed the 26-year-old winger had made a permanent move, believed to be for an initial fee of £1million, with a 10am announcement on Sunday.
Alli spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth.
“We’re delighted to get Milli over the line,” Jones told Charlton’s official website. “We want to evolve and to get better year in and year out - we’ve identified certain elements that we’ve needed, in terms of that player that can be one-v-one.
“He’s shown he can be a real potent threat at Championship level.
“We felt he was going to be a really good addition and we’ve worked hard to get that done. He provides options and competition for the players we’ve got and we think in that forward area we’ve got different one-v-one threats with TC (Tyreece Campbell), Karlan [Grant] and Rob Apter and we feel we’ve just added in that department.
“We’re still looking for even more quality but this, we feel, is a positive step in being able to evolve and be more potent. He’s hungry, he’s ambitious, he wants to do really well at this level and kick-on, we were really impressed by how much he wanted to join Charlton.”
The Addicks also signed Danny McNamara on a two-year contract. He was a free agent after leaving Millwall at the end of last season.
The 27-year-old defender spoke to South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition after putting pen to paper in SE7.
Danny McNamara at Sparrows Lane/Picture: Focus/CAFC
Kaheim Dixon celebrates scoring for Jamaica in the Unity Cup at The Valley/Picture: Keith Gillard
Dixon joins Novi Pazar
Kaheim Dixon announced he had signed for Serbian side Novi Pazar on Friday evening - even though not all the paperwork had been completed on his move.
The 21-year-old Jamaican winger, who Charlton picked up from Arnett Gardens in 2024, had a disappointing loan at Crawley Town last season which ended up being aborted in February.
Dixon still had two years left to run on his Addicks contract.
Novi Plavar are fourth in the Serbian SuperLiga after two matches.
Dixon has agreed a three-year contract.
Tyreece Campbell competes with Isaac Ogundere in Saturday’s fixture at AFC Wimbledon/Picture: Keith Gillard
Addicks lose at Plough Lane
Do you want any more detail than that?
Pre-season friendlies never live long in the memory. And they are even quicker to be erased when they are defeats.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss at AFC Wimbledon ended up being about perspiration with a distinct lack of inspiration.
Our post-match podcast can be found here. Curtis Fleming stepped in to do the media interviews after the match - pretty much every word from the Charlton assistant boss is here.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Dons boss a confirmed admirer of striker
Johnnie Jackson confirmed to BBC London Sport that AFC Wimbledon are interested in a loan deal for Daniel Kanu.
Charlton have been holding out for a permanent deal if they part company with the forward, who has played minimal minutes in pre-season.
Kanu was part of the travelling party at Plough Lane but did not get on the pitch.
“Yeah, Dan is a player I like,” said Jackson. “I gave him his debut at Charlton and I have followed his career very closely. He is someone whose attributes I really like. We had a conversation with Charlton around that.
“They are aware we like him but he’s their player and it is their prerogative what they do on that front. I don’t really want to wade into that water too much. Dan is a great lad.”
Mitchell and Anderson make League One moves
Alex Mitchell and Karoy Anderson have ended their Charlton Athletic careers.
Centre-back Mitchell signed a three-year contract with Plymouth Argyle on Thursday. No fee was disclosed for the former Millwall defender.
He always wanted a return to Home Park after a highly successful loan move last season.
“Any sense of disappointment among the Green Army at the transfer of Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj to Bristol City earlier this week will have been replaced by pleasure at the return of defender Alex Mitchell,” wrote Chris Errington, who has covered the club for the Plymouth Herald for three decades.
“The return of Mitchell sends out a signal to the rest of League One that Argyle are not just there to make the numbers up and are serious about a promotion push.”
Midfielder Anderson, 21, moved to Blackpool on a four-year contract. Like Mitchell, it is proof that a productive loan, the Jamaican international spent the second half of last season with the Tangerines, can lead to a transfer.
Neil Crosby, Anderson’s agent, posted on social media: “I’ve never had a loan club so persistent to turn a loan into a permanent.
“It just goes to show you’re not only a top young player, but a top person around the building. I know you’re going to be a huge success in front of fans who already love you.”
Melbourne City posted the above image on their website announcing Leah Davidson’s departure
Charlton Athletic Women keep building new squad
Melbourne City midfielder Leah Davidson has signed a two-year contract with Charlton Athletic Women.
The 25-year-old has won three consecutive A-League titles and played more than 100 matches for the Australian club.
Davidson has been capped four times by her country.
“She arrived as a teenager with enormous potential and leaves as a centurion, a Matilda and a key figure in one of the most successful periods in our women’s programme,” said Melbourne City’s director of football Michael Petrillo.
Davidson added: “My time at Melbourne City has shaped me so much as both a player and a person, and I’ll always be grateful for everything the club has given me.”
Finnish international goalkeeper Anna Koivunen has also been handed a two-year contract and arrives from Swedish side Djurgardens IF.
Koivunen faces the sizeable challenge of dislodging Sophie Whitehouse, Charlton’s outstanding performer last season as they won promotion from WSL 2.
Andrew Crofts playing against Coventry City in 2016 at The Valley/Picture: Keith Gillard
Crofts joins De Zerbi’s backroom team at Spurs
Andrew Crofts was appointed Tottenham’s assistant head coach on Tuesday.
The former midfielder, brought to Charlton by Russell Slade in July 2016, was one of Fabian Hurzeler’s assistants at Brighton. He is also part of Craig Bellamy’s backroom team at international level with Wales.
Crofts worked with Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi when the Italian was in charge of the Seagulls.
“Knowing that he wanted me to come here was big for me,” said Crofts. “We did some incredible stuff at Brighton. I know exactly what he is about and how good he is at managing people.
“This move fills me with a lot of pride. I’ve got a really close relationship with the gaffer.”
Watt a milestone
Tony Watt was one of the very early feature interviews on this website, and recently the former Charlton Athletic striker made the 500th appearance of his club career.
The 32-year-old Scot marked the milestone with a goal in Partick’s Thistle’s League Cup defeat to Stenhousemuir. The tie finished 2-2 with Watt’s 81st-minute finish leading to a penalty shootout which the hosts lost 7-5.
Conor McGrandles risks a kick in the head against Swansea in July 2022/Picture: Keith Gillard
Imps reward McGrandles
Conor McGrandles has signed a new contract at Lincoln City until at least 2028.
The Imps, who won the League One title last season, also have an option to extend by a further 12 months.
McGrandles was bought by Charlton from Lincoln in June 2022 but completed a permanent return to Sincil Bank two years later.
The midfielder, 30, is set to head back to The Valley on November 24.
“We understand how difficult parts of this season are going to be, so we’re not naive,” said McGrandles, discussing the test of Championship football. “But we’re all excited about the challenge.
“If we approach the season with the same mindset and attitude we had last year, I think we can surprise a few people. Looking at where the club is now and the players we’ve already got in the squad, I’m really confident we can do something good this season.”
Defoe makes acrimonious exit from first managerial job
Jermain Defoe’s dalliance with Woking is over.
The striker, who started in Charlton’s academy before defecting to West Ham United when it came to signing professional terms in 1999, had been appointed as their manager four months ago.
Defoe took to social media to announce his departure, just a fortnight before the National League season starts.
“Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special.
"My time at Woking FC has been an eye-opening managerial experience and one that will undoubtedly make me stronger for the next challenge in my career.”
Woking’s director of football Jody Brown denied there was any fallout over player recruitment.
Responding to a comment on X, he said: “Of the vast number of triallists, I did not choose one. Not one. Jermain led all recruitment and all triallists. All Jermain’s contacts, all linked to him. Every single one.
“Empty promises? We gave everything that was asked. Everything. I’m sure it’ll all come out in due course.”
Brown then released a statement on Woking’s website accusing Defoe of failing to turn up for a meeting to discuss the preparations for the upcoming season.
“Neither Jermain nor his assistant attended that meeting or that day’s training session,” said Brown. “Throughout his tenure, Jermain had never communicated any serious concerns directly to me, so I am not going to speculate on his reasons.
“Every football club faces challenges. Players want more game time, improved contracts or transfers. The media team might want better equipment, the medical department more interns, the strength and conditioning staff larger gym space. and the car park attendants may want more coffee. But people do not just fail to turn up.”
When the Addicks tried to sign Kevin Keegan
The football world was in mourning last week with the passing of Kevin Keegan.
Now I know you’d be disappointed if I didn’t shoehorn in a reference to Fulham, who he managed briefly and led to the Second Division (now League One) title in 1999.
It was a sign of his stature in the game that he had been appointed England boss a few months before the end of that campaign. He juggled both jobs before focusing solely on the national team once the domestic season had finished.
Anyway, I digress. Voice of The Valley editor Rick Everitt has written an excellent piece detailing Charlton’s links to Keegan - including their attempts to sign King Kev when he was leaving Southampton in 1982.