Charlton Athletic have confirmed the signing of free agent forward Ricardo Vaz Te. Their official club website also announced that he has penned a contract until the end of this season.
The 29-year-old, who can play on either wing or as a centre forward, has been without a club since his departure from Turkish Super League side Akhisar Belediyespor. He scored five goals during his time in Turkey, but is certainly no stranger to the English game.
He made the move to Bolton Wanderers in 2003 under Sam Allardyce and wouldn’t officially leave until 2010. He struggled to command a regular place in the side, although he did take part in their UEFA Cup campaign under Gary Megson. A difficult spell in Greece with Panionios, before coming back to the UK with Hibernian. It was his form in Scotland which earned him his second English club, that being Barnsley in the Championship.
He would reach double figure goals whilst at Oakwell but rejected the offer of a new contract in January 2012, citing a move to a bigger club being his preference. He would go on to enjoy a three-year spell with West Ham United, scoring the winning goal in the Championship Play-Off Final victory over Ian Holloway’s Blackpool.
It would be fair to say that Vaz Te re-joins the English game with something to prove. He is the type that can be a match-winner ‘on his day’, but has perhaps lacked the consistency and appetite to perform week in, week out. However, with him soon approaching his 30th birthday, the Lisbon-born man clearly would like to settle down in London and hopefully guide the Addicks away from the Championship relegation zone.
