Charlton Athletic join chase for defender with top-flight pedigree | OneFootball

Ruben Sanchez is reportedly of interest to the Addicks ahead of the transfer window

Charlton Athletic's first season back in the Championship ultimately saw Nathan Jones' side achieve their short-term aim, with the goal of now further solidifying their place in the division now a priority.

After spending five years in League One, the Welshman was able to achieve promotion with the Addicks in his first full season at The Valley through the play-offs 13 months ago, with the club then made immediate favourites for relegation in the second tier.

However, largely down to an encouraging start to the campaign against all odds, the South London club, alongside Birmingham City and Wrexham, were able to make it three newly-promoted sides ensuring they all avoided immediate relegation for the third successive season in the Championship.

At the end of the season, the Reds finished three places and six points in front of relegated Oxford United, and now their attention will switch towards an intriguing transfer window.

In order to avoid a case of 'second season syndrome', many supporters will be hoping that some of Charlton's potential incomings are to have a greater success rate than that of some who made the move to the club in last summer's transfer window

There have already been suggestions of the capital side shopping in the Scottish market amid links to defensive duo, Will Ferry and Luke Graham.

However, with the summer window set to open in just a matter of days, Jones appears to have also turned his attention to additions from overseas, albeit the chances of a move for Espanyol full-back, Ruben Sanchez, could prove tricky.

Charlton Athletic face top-flight transfer battle for Espanyol defender Ruben Sanchez

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Indeed, it has been reported by Spanish journalist, Matteo Moretto, via X, on Thursday, June 4th that the aforementioned Sanchez is a target for multiple sides across Europe with the window looming large.

Two of the clubs fully namedropped within such claims are Charlton, as well as Espanyol's divisional rivals, Elche CF, who finished four places and just three points behind the Barcelona-based club in the 2025/26 La Liga standings.

Moretto also states that further interest from other Spanish top-flight clubs is there regarding the 25-year-old defender, as well as the possibility of a potential move to a side in Italy's Serie A.

Sanchez has been a product of Espanyol's academy, also hailing from Barcelona, having made his debut for the club in October 2021 in a 2-0 home success over Cadiz CF, months after signing his first professional contract.

Aside from two loan spells with CD Mirandes and Granada CF, the right-back has spent his entire professional career with Espanyol, making 51 appearances and providing four assists in just short of five years.

21 of those came in last season's La Liga, where he featured in six of the final eight matches of the season, including outings against FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Charlton Athletic's need for defensive cover makes sense ahead of 2026/27

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At this stage, Sanchez is clearly a player with a respectable pedigree, although not many within English football will know too much about him to make a clear judgement.

That said, a move for his services does align with the fact that the Addicks are in need of further defensive depth ahead of the new season following the publishing of the customary retained / released list.

Harry Clarke, of course, was a mainstay at right-back on loan from Ipswich Town in the second half of the season, but has since returned to Portman Road following the expiration of said agreement.

However, supporters will no doubt be encouraged by the links to Sanchez in the first place, especially if sides within some of Europe's highest-ranked leagues are also courting his signature.