Dean Holden reacts to Charlton Athletic’s first January signing | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic have signed Macauley Bonne on a deal until the end of the season, as announced on the club’s website this afternoon.

The 27-year-old scored 11 goals in the Championship for the Addicks in 2019/20 before departing for Queens Park Rangers the following summer.

Bonne struggled to establish himself in West London, but showed what he could do in League One on loan at Ipswich Town last term, cutting ties with the Rs by mutual consent this month, seemingly to accelerate a move.

Dean Holden had his say on the arrival when he spoke to the club’s website.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Macauley in depth.

“Those couple of years he’s been away he’s not enjoyed it like he enjoyed it here.

“He absolutely loved playing for this football club.

“He chases everything down, he’s a goalscorer, he’s got Championship experience and he scored goals at this level last season with Ipswich.

“He’s really hungry to pull that shirt on and do well for this football club and that for me tells me everything I need to know.”

The Addicks have had their ups and downs in the final third this season, and Bonne may have to bide his time for some league starts due to the recent performances of Miles Leaburn.

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The contract length may be a concern for supporters and Bonne himself.

Given the 27-year-old’s track record and adaptability it is very hard to understand why the club would not look to sign Bonne on an 18-month contract.

In the January transfer window in 2019/20, when the club was undergoing a takeover, it did not become clear that the club were under a transfer embargo until months after the window, of which the Addicks only signed loan players and free agents in.

There have been similar off-pitch rumblings in the lead-up to the current transfer window, and it would appear, given what has gone on so far, that a similar transfer policy is being adopted, despite Technical Director Andy Scott telling supporters that there was money available to spend in late December.