Charlton Athletic struck gold with German transfer - He won't be forgotten at The Valley | OneFootball

The Addicks' decision to sign a defender from Portuguese side CS Maritimo certainly paid off.

Charlton Athletic struck gold when they signed centre-back Patrick Bauer from Portuguese side CS Maritimo in the summer of 2015.

The German defender joined the Addicks for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal as they were preparing for a season in the Championship, and, at 22 years old, he was seen as a player with room to improve over the coming years.

Bauer was a regular starter for Charlton during the first half of the 2015/16 season, before a groin injury he picked up against Burnley at Turf Moor in December ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign and meant he was unable to help the club avoid being relegated to League One.

He produced an impressive return of four goals and three assists as the Addicks finished 13th in League One during the 2016/17 campaign, and netted another three goals the following season as Charlton reached the play-offs under Lee Bowyer in 2018.

However, while he was a threat from set-pieces, Bauer's defensive contributions were highly important for Charlton as they achieved consecutive top-six finishes in the third tier.

His winning goal against Sunderland in the League One play-off final at Wembley in 2019 earned him a place in Charlton folklore and ensured that he will never be forgotten at The Valley.

Bauer wrote his name into Charlton history

Charlton fans will never forget Bauer's winning goal at Wembley that earned them a place back in the Championship, but some supporters might not be aware that he may not have been in Lee Bowyer's squad that season if things had played out differently during the summer transfer window in 2018.

The Addicks had just been beaten by Shrewsbury Town in the semi-final of the League One play-offs, and Bauer's performances over the course of that season had attracted interest from the Championship.

Blackburn Rovers made an offer worth £300,000 to sign the German, who only had 12 months left on his contract in SE7 and was keen to return to the second tier - the division he had joined Charlton to play in when he first arrived in 2015.

Bowyer discussed Rovers' interest in the defender at the time, as per the Lancashire Telegraph.

"He wants to play at a higher level, I get it," Bowyer said.

"I said to Pat: 'I understand, but if the offer is not good enough then the offer is not good enough. If they want you, they should come in and offer what you're worth.

"Ive told him: 'You need to get your head right and get your fitness right, in case you're still here."

Blackburn did not meet the £2 million asking price that Charlton had set for Bauer, meaning he stayed in South East London for the 2018/19 season, and it is safe to say he did not let it affect his performances.

The defender played a key role at the back and even captained the side on a number of occasions as the Addicks finished third in League One.

All of that led to Bauer's unforgettable moment at Wembley. The ball fell to the German at the back post, and he turned the ball home after his initial header was blocked and sparked bedlam in a packed Charlton end.

Bauer will "never forget" Wembley goal

Bauer stated that his winning goal capped off the best two weeks of his life, as he had become a father for the first time in the lead up to the play-off final.

He discussed the famous moment in an interview posted on Charlton's official website in 2020.

"I remember it well," Bauer said.

"It was a moment I will never forget. Since then I've probably watched it over 1,000 times!

"I tried to head it into the far corner, but it was blocked and came back to me and I just wanted to smash it in.

"I think it got deflected off one of their players, but obviously it went in. What a moment. It's a moment I will never forget.

"I think everyone who was watching from the Charlton supporters were experiencing that feeling. It's something that you will never forget."

Bauer was part of the 'legends parade' at The Valley ahead of Charlton's League One play-off second leg against Wycombe Wanderers in May 2025, which shows just how fondly he is remembered at The Valley - he will never be forgotten.