As expected, Charlton were involved in a number of deadline day deals.
Josh Umerah joined Scottish side, Kilmarnock, until the end of the season. Umerah has been on the fringes of the first team, and came on as a late substitute for Frederik Ulvestad at Southend on New Year’s Eve.
His only other senior appearance this season was in the Checkatrade Trophy game against Southampton, when he came on for Nicky Ajose.
Umerah is 19-years-old and a big, bustling striker. The move to Rugby Park will allow him to get minutes at senior level, which he needs at this stage of his development.
Josh Magennis joined the Addicks from Kilmarnock, and will be able to advise Umerah on what to expect.
Nicky Ajose has returned to former club, Swindon, on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Ajose was a big money signing in the summer, but has had a difficult time at The Valley.
Charlton have never really played in a style that will get the best out of Ajose, and he is totally unsuited to Karl Robinson’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
In all competitions, Ajose has made 29 starts and 6 sub appearances for the Addicks, scoring 7 goals.
Robinson brought in Arsenal’s highly rated 18-year-old striker, Stephy Mavididi, to replace Ajose.
Mavididi scored 17 goals in 30 appearances for Arsenal’s Under-21 side last season, and said this after completing his temporary switch to The Valley:
“I’m really excited. This is my first loan, it’s a big opportunity for me and a stepping stone in my career. It’s something I want to do and I’m looking forward to the experience.
“I was at the Millwall game a couple of weeks ago. The Valley is such a big stadium and what captured me the most was the fans and the atmosphere. It made me want to run out in front of them and play. I can’t wait to get started.”
Robinson was delighted with his latest addition, and had this to say:
“Stephy is someone that I’ve seen a few times in the Under-23 Premier League and he has certainly got the key components to succeed in what I call ‘real’ football.
“He has the power, the game intelligence and this move is one that he has to grab with both hands.
“They speak highly of him in the Arsenal youth set-up and he will give us something different to Lee Novak, Tony Watt and Josh Magennis.
“With Nicky going out on loan, we needed to get someone who can help us to stretch a game. Stephy is a real talent and I’m sure Charlton will be a real home for him in the short term.”
Mavididi can also operate as a winger.
One move that did not go through was Roger Johnson’s proposed loan switch to Gillingham. Johnson’s only league start this season was the season opener at Bury in August.
The move to Gillingham would have given him the opportunity to play on a regular basis, but an injury prevented the deal from going through.
Another player Robinson was keen to sign was Liverpool’s defensive midfielder, Jordan Williams, but the deal was not completed.
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