Charlton Athletic new boy Luke Chambers was handed his Liverpool debut by Jurgen Klopp and once earned "amazing" praise from Trent Alexander-Arnold

Addicks take 21-year-old left-back on loan for remainder of Championship season

It has taken 21 days of the January transfer window, but Charlton Athletic have added a left-back. Luke Chambers arrives from Liverpool on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 21-year-old from Preston has previously had spells with Wigan Athletic and Kilmarnock.

Chambers joined the Reds’ academy at the age of six and made his senior debut against Leicester in the EFL Cup in September 2023.

Capped by England at multiple age groups from U15 to U20, he also represented Liverpool in 2023 Europa League fixtures - wins over Toulouse (5-1) and LASK Linz (4-0) as well as a loss to Union St Gilloise.

The same season that Chambers broke into the first-team picture - 2023-24 - he was loaned to Wigan Athletic in January. He made 18 appearances.

Chambers returned to the League One club at the start of the following campaign but a back injury limited him to just 13 matches.

After playing the opening 10 league games he was ruled out in early October. Chambers made his return on March 8 but the comeback lasted two matches, ending after a 70-minute runout in a 2-1 loss at The Valley.

Wigan boss Ryan Lowe announced that Chambers had headed back to Liverpool at the start of April.

He added: “He’s had another recurrence of the injury and his season will be done.”He was just not quite right. I know he came back from his injury and he played under Glenn [Whelan], and then for me at Charlton.

“But after that, he wasn’t really right. We could see he wasn’t really right in training. He came to see me and said he didn’t feel right, we then spoke to Liverpool, and he obviously wasn’t right.

“It is gutting for him, because he is a very talented footballer. I’ve spoken to him and told him his sole focus is getting fit and ready.

“I think he’s got a couple of years left at Liverpool, and I really hope he’ll be back playing football before too long.”

Charlton have been in urgent need of strengthening down their left flank with manager Nathan Jones confirming after yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Derby County that first-choice starter Josh Edwards had suffered a setback in his return from an ankle problem.

“He’s a talented, young, hungry player of real pedigree, having come through the Liverpool youth system and represented their first-team, so I’m looking forward to working with him,” said Jones.

Chambers is in line to make his debut in Saturday’s south London derby at Millwall.

He said: “We’ve obviously got a big game on Saturday, so I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans and showing them what I’ve got.”

Chambers made his return to action in Liverpool’s U21 match against OGC Nice on December 17, with the club’s official website describing him as looking “sharp” in the 30 minutes he played.

Trent Alexander-Arnold hailed the youngster as “amazing” when he made his full debut against Toulouse.

“He’s been in and around the team on and off the pitch, and he plays amazing football,” said the now Real Madrid star. “It’s amazing to see him out there, and he’s a really amazing player and he has great potential. I’m sure he and his family will have a great night because it’s one he’ll never forget.

“He put in an amazing performance out there, very mature, and contributed to a big win for us.”

Chambers was left pinching himself at representing Liverpool at first-team level. Jurgen Klopp handed him the opportunity.

“I’ve dreamt of this moment since I was six,” he said. “To top it off with a win as well, I’m lost for words. I found out yesterday and had a bit of time with family at night. The reality hit.

“Trent’s done what I aspire to do. Watching Trent do it gives us academy lads a stepping stone to go and recreate it. I couldn’t ask for someone better to look up to.”

Chambers was linked with Bayer Leverkusen, Swansea, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2023.

Klopp, speaking after his milestone moment against Toulouse, said: “He had a really good year last year, in Scotland (on loan at Kilmarnock). [There] was a lot of interest there in the summer, but I didn’t blink for a second then. I thought I cannot let him go.

“I wouldn’t say Luke is in his top, top, top shape in this moment. He got an injury which caused another little setback. But we 100 per cent believe in him and trust him. I wanted to show him that tonight.”

Chambers is the third addition made in the transfer window. Harry Clarke arrived from Ipswich Town last week with Lyndon Dykes making a permanent switch from Birmingham City until the end of the season.

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