Last week in review for Charlton Athletic
Gillesphey signs contract extension, three incoming transfers and Wellens dig as Galbraith plumps for Swansea City move
There was plenty of Charlton Athletic news in the past week - including hectic transfer window business as well as Macaulay Gillesphey signing a new contract.
Here is a round-up of the last seven days.
Macaulay Gillesphey celebrates scoring for Charlton Athletic in the League One play-off final against Leyton Orient
Picture: Paul Edwards
TRANSFER WINDOW ACTIVITY
Charlton Athletic made three signings last week - Thomas Kaminski, Isaac Olaofe and Amari’i Bell.
Kaminski, 32, was the first through the door on a three-year contract with an undisclosed fee paid to Luton Town to acquire the Belgian goalkeeper’s services.
Former Millwall youngster Olaofe, 25, signed the same length of deal but with a club option of a further 12 months. South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition has been told the striker cost in the region of £1.5million to prise away from Stockport County.
The Addicks set a new club record for clean sheets on their way to winning promotion out of League One last season but Kaminski’s arrival is almost certain to see him starting off the campaign as number one. It will then be between Will Mannion and Ashley Maynard-Brewer to vie for the role of back-up.
There has been speculation that Australian stopper Maynard-Brewer could look to move on to secure first-team football but this outlet was told that the academy product is determined to fight for his place.
“We wanted to improve every department and the signing of Thomas does that,” Charlton manager Nathan Jones told the club’s X account.
“We had a fantastic defensive record last year, both goalkeepers did well for us and kept clean sheets but we’ve gone up a level and the environment has to go up a level. When we had the chance to strengthen in that area then we really wanted to do it.”
Olaofe netted 12 goals and four assists for Stockport last season as they came up short in the League One play-offs, losing to Leyton Orient in their semi-final.
Millwall had a 45 per cent sell-on included in the deal they did with County but are believed to have re-negotiated those terms as County made clear the transfer would be off otherwise.
“He fits everything we want to do - young, hungry, athletic and wants to play at that level,” said Jones. “He did very well against us. Doing our research and prep before we played them, we knew he was a threat. He is one that will continue to get better.”
Bell, 32, has worked with Jones before at Luton Town. The Welshman was in the top job there when the defender, likely to be used in a left-sided defensive role in a back three, joined the Hatters from Blackburn Rovers in 2021.
Bell was released by Luton Town at the end of last season. There is reaction to his move on the site.
Jones indicated before the Jamaican international’s arrival in SE7 was confirmed that mentality is king when it comes to squad additions.
“We don’t gamble on character,” he said. “We don’t bring bad characters in. If they are in and signed it means they have got a really good character, because we don’t take the gamble on that.
“First we need the human being, then we need the athlete and player - it’s three-pronged. We don’t make a mistake on that.”
CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
Macaulay Gillesphey and Micah Mbick have extended their deals with Charlton Athletic.
Centre-back Gillesphey, 29, only missed two matches last season and scored the free-kick which settled the Addicks’ League One play-off final against Leyton Orient.
His old terms were due to run until 2026 but included a club option. The new contract expires in 2027 but, once again, Charlton can activate a further 12 months.
Striker Mbick, 18, has signed a three-year contract with a club option to push that to 2029.
Micah Mbick runs off after netting his first senior goal in Charlton’s FA Cup tie against non-league Cray Valley
Picture: Kyle Andrews
He scored just minutes into his debut, coming off the bench to net in the FA Cup replay win at Cray Valley PM, and made five appearances last season, including as a late substitute in the League One play-off final.
“It’s great to have a manager that trusts you,” said Mbick. “Working with him there is always high intensity and high demands, and he really just pushes me to get to a higher level."
ORIENT BOSS CLAIMS GALBRAITH SNUB
Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has claimed that Ethan Galbraith rejected the overtures of Charlton Athletic before signing for Swansea City on Friday.
The Addicks defeated the east London club in the League One play-off final at the end of May to seal their place in the Championship.
But Galbraith opted to make the switch to the Swans, who had tried to secure his signature in the January transfer window.
Only Wellens will know if the fact he is still salty from Charlton defeating his side at Wembley is the reason he decided to name some of the other teams that had come in for the 24-year-old, who reportedly cost £1.5million.
"He had a few clubs interested and I gave him the total choice of what he wanted to do,” Wellens told Orient’s official website. "Huddersfield came in, he didn't want to play in League One - he wanted to challenge himself in the Championship. Charlton came in, he didn't want to go to Charlton because he didn't feel he fitted into their style of football.
Ethan Galbraith will face Charlton Athletic again next season - but on the payroll of Swansea City
Picture: Kyle Andrews
"Swansea came in and he feels he fits into their style of football. He's made his decision and we wish him all the best.
"He gets a move to play at a level he deserves to play at. I think ultimately he'll end up in the Premier League."
And Wellens was not the only one to go public claiming the Addicks’ interest in a player - so did Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony.
He told Posh+ that they had been trying to sign Malik Mothersille.
Stockport County broke their transfer record to land the 21-year-old - on the same day that Isaac Olaofe was unveiled as an Addicks player.
"Stockport County offered Malik the same money (in wages) as we offered him,” said MacAnthony. “Jim Rodwell (managing director) of Charlton had been bidding for Malik, but he couldn’t get to the number we wanted.
“Chelsea had a big sell-on and there was a number I wouldn’t go below.
“Malik initially wanted the Championship, but Stockport sold their project to him. Malik didn’t want to stay and I am not going to stand in the way of players who want to leave. If you don’t want to be at Peterborough United after one bad season in about 20 years at League One level then so be it and fair play to Stockport for paying the money.”
PRATLEY RETIREMENT
It was announced on Thursday that midfielder Darren Pratley, 40, had hung up his boots and taken his first step on the coaching ladder with Leyton Orient’s U21 side.
He spoke to South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition about that decision as well as backing the Addicks to stay in the Championship this season.
Pratley was a key part of Lee Bowyer’s side that won the League One play-offs in 2019.
The O’s youngsters are lucky to have someone with his huge experience - more than 700 senior matches - imparting wisdom to them.
HOLDEN ROLE
Dean Holden is back in football - this time as assistant head coach at Hull City.
There is quite a contingent of Charlton Athletic old boys at the Championship side after they signed goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and centre-back Semi Ajayi in the current transfer window.
Holden was sacked by the Addicks in August 2023 - just weeks after the League One season started - lasting eight months in the SE7 hot seat.
His first role after that was acting as Steven Gerrard’s number two at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq and then, most recently, with Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
Dean Holden shouts out instructions
Picture: Keith Gillard
“My role will primarily be looking after the defensive side of the team, making sure we are compact, organised and solid behind the ball – something I pride myself on,” Holden told Hull City’s official website.
“I have learned a lot over the last 18 months from my experiences abroad and I am returning to England a much more rounded coach, to a division I know really well.”
Hull could be one of the clubs that struggle next season. Not long after Holden’s appointment they were slapped with a transfer ban by the EFL for late payment of transfer monies owed for the loan of Aston Villa’s Louie Barry.
The Tigers are appealing the decision, which is set to prevent them paying a fee for a player until January 2027.
NEW DEALS REJECTED BY QUARTET
Beth Roe, Mary Bashford, Jess Gray and Ellie Brazil have left Charlton Athletic Women.
“The four players were offered new contracts by the club but have decided to explore options elsewhere,” said the Addicks in a statement on their official website.
Defender Roe, 24, made more than 100 appearances for Charlton, initially joining on loan from Brighton in 2021 before a permanent switch.
Beth Roe makes a tackle during a match against Sunderland at The Valley in October 2024
Picture: Keith Gillard
Brazil won the Addicks’ Players’ Player Of The Year award and Player of the Year.
Aaron Henry celebrates scoring for Charlton against QPR in the EFL Cup
Picture: Keith Gillard
BOREHAM WOOD SIGN HENRY
Aaron Henry has signed for Boreham Wood after his release by Charlton Athletic.
The 21-year-old midfielder was seen as a big prospect coming through the youth ranks with the south London club but it never really translated into a sustained run of involvement at first-team level.
Henry had spells on loan at Wealdstone (twice), Crawley Town and Rochdale.
Arguably the former England U16 international’s highlight moment for the Addicks was his EFL Cup winner against QPR in the 2022-23 season. That proved to be his most productive campaign, with two goals and 21 appearances in all competitions.
EX-ADDICKS ON THE MOVE
Brendan Wiredu, a product of Charlton Athletic’s academy, has moved from Fleetwood Town to Plymouth Argyle. Pilgrims head coach Tom Cleverley said: "He is strong, versatile and, as evidenced by the fact he was Fleetwood's captain, a leader. It is great to have him on board."
Goalkeeper Lewis Ward has joined Swindon Town for a third time. The 28-year-old, who left AFC Wimbledon at the end of last season, had a six-month stay with the Addicks in the second half of the 2023-24 League One season but did not make an appearance.
James Beadle has signed a season-long loan with Birmingham City. The former Charlton youngster, who rejected a professional deal to make the switch to Brighton, spent the previous campaign with Sheffield Wednesday. He said: “This will be my third season in the Championship, and I want to really perform well again this year. I know a lot of the players, I’ve played against them before, so it will definitely help me.”
EARLY KICK OFFS
Four of Charlton Athletic’s opening five Championship matches have been moved to 12.30pm kick-offs.
The home games against Leicester City (August 23) and Millwall (September 13) have been selected for broadcast on Sky Sports Football and have been brought forward to lunchtime starts.
Tomer Hemed has a shot against Millwall in July 2020 - the last time that Charlton faced their south London rivals in a competitive fixture
Picture: Keith Gillard
Charlton’s first 3pm home game will be the visit of Blackburn Rovers on September 27.