Charlton Athletic have confirmed the signing of Swindon Town striker Nicky Ajose. The Daily Mail reports that a fee of £800,000 has been agreed to take the 24-year-old to The Valley.
Championship clubs Birmingham City and Preston North End, in addition to League One side Bolton Wanderers have had expressed an interest in the prolific Ajose.
After officially joining the club, Ajose couldn’t hide his delight at signing for a club like Charlton,
“I’m really glad to be here and cannot wait to get started. From a personal point of view, it was really nice to get a good tally of goals last year and I feel like if I can do something similar next year then it could end in promotion.
“My aspirations for next season were to be playing the Championship but when a team like Charlton come calling then I felt it was an opportunity that I could not turn down. I’m delighted to have it all signed so early and am really looking forward to getting started.”
Ajose has been a revelation since penning a permanent contract at League One Swindon in September 2015. Since then, he has fired in a total of 24 League One goals for the club. Last season, only Wigan Athletic’s Will Grigg managed to score more times at that level.
Addicks boss Russell Slade is desperate to add players proven at this level to his Charlton squad. The signing of Ajose, who is certainly experience in the division, would be a most welcome start. The Bury-born striker came through the ranks at Manchester United before a successful loan spell at his hometown club.
Several loan moves followed for Ajose, sandwiched between a permanent transfer to Peterborough United in 2011. He would be snapped up by Leeds United in 2014 by then manager David Hockaday. A loan spell at Crewe saw him get back on track and amongst the goals before Swindon came calling.
Slade describes his new signing as a ‘fantastic addition’ and was ‘impressed by his enthusiasm’.
