5 realistic signings Charlton Athletic and Nathan Jones should look to make after League One promotion | OneFootball

The Addicks will play in the Championship for the first time since 2020 next season.

Charlton Athletic will be a Championship club during the 2025/26 campaign following their victory over Leyton Orient in the League One play-off final.

The Addicks did not concede a goal in any of their three games during the play-offs, with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Wycombe Wanderers and a 1-0 win against Leyton Orient at Wembley being enough to earn a long-awaited return to the second tier.

A solid defensive unit and an outstanding home record have been key to Nathan Jones' side being successful this term, and those two things will be vital if Charlton are going to survive in the Championship next season.

However, there is no doubt that the club will need to get things right during the summer transfer window in order to have enough quality to compete at the level above, and Jones spoke about the work that needs to be done in the aftermath of the play-off final, as per Richard Cawley via X.

"Now the work starts tenfold. We go into an unforgiving environment," Jones said.

"We were competing with Birminghams, Wrexhams, Boltons and Huddersfields with big budgets - now we land on a different planet and we have to be competitive.

"We've had one window, really, to recruit. We have to be meteoric in everything we do. We need an influx of quality - coupled with what we have - and then make some really tough decisions moving forward.

"We'll do that."

Let's take a look at five players that Charlton could consider signing this summer as they prepare for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Jamie Donley

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Donley enjoyed an outstanding loan spell at Leyton Orient this season, scoring eight goals and assisting 10 in League One as the O's fell just short of winning promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

Now, it seems likely that the 20-year-old will be playing in the Championship next season, with West Bromwich Albion being one club that has been linked with a loan move for the Northern Ireland international.

Luke Berry turns 33 this summer and Alex Gilbert will return to Middlesbrough following his loan spell in SE7, so Charlton could do with another attacking midfielder as they prepare to return to the second tier.

Jones prefers to sign players permanently rather than on loan, but if the Addicks can take advantage of being in London, like they did when they signed Conor Gallagher on loan from Chelsea six years ago, bringing in Donley could be a shrewd piece of business.

Anfernee Dijksteel

Former Charlton defender Anfernee Dijksteel, who helped the Addicks win the League One play-off final against Sunderland in 2019, is available on a free transfer this summer following his release from Middlesbrough.

The 28-year-old would add some Championship experience to the dressing room, as well as providing quality competition at right-back and cover at centre-back, if he could be convinced to return to The Valley.

Jordan Clark

It would be no surprise to see Nathan Jones once again target players he has worked with in the past, considering he brought in the likes of Luke Berry, Dan Potts and Danny Hylton last summer, so he could well make a move for one or two Luton Town players following their relegation to League One.

Jordan Clark could be a smart addition for the Addicks if they are able to bring the 31-year-old to South East London, with the midfielder having scored six goals and provided six assists in the Championship this season.

He worked with Jones during the Welshman's most recent spell at Kenilworth Road, and scored at Wembley in the Championship play-off final when the Hatters won promotion to the Premier League in 2023.

Malik Mothersille

Peterborough United forward Malik Mothersille impressed in League One this season despite being part of a side that finished 18th in the table, and scored at The Valley earlier this year.

The 21-year-old stands at 6 feet and 2 inches tall and has the physical attributes that suit a Nathan Jones side, so if the Welshman was able to instill the sort of mentality that his players are renowned for, the London-born attacker could be a good signing, especially in the long-term.

Posh often command significant transfer fees for their young talent, so a deal for Mothersille may be difficult to complete, but the prospect of playing in the Championship next season would no doubt be tempting for the player.

Ryan Hardie

Charlton may well be looking for another out-and-out striker, with Matty Godden turning 34 this summer and most of their other forwards having unreliable injury records.

Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie hit double figures in the second tier this season, and could be available this summer after the Pilgrims suffered relegation to League One.

The 28-year-old netted five goals in the last 10 league games of the season, so if he continues that form into next season he will be a great option for whichever club he plays for next term.