Charlton Athletic have announced the signing of West Ham youth star Conor Coventry on a permanent deal.
The Addicks have signed the 23-year-old on an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year deal and becomes the third arrival of the January window. Tyreeq Bakinson and Lewis Fiorini have also arrived on loans at the Valley from Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City respectively.
Coventry, an Irish international with over 40 appearances for the Boys In Green’s youth setups, recently set a new national record for the U21 side with his 25th appearance against Montenegro. Earlier this week, reports from the Real EFL indicated interest from a London club, and today the transfer has been officially confirmed.
A product of the Hammers’ academy, Coventry brings considerable experience in the third division, having previously played for Lincoln City and MK Dons in League One. His connection with his new boss, Michael Appleton, dates back to his time at Lincoln City. Last season, Coventry was part of the West Ham side that secured the UEFA Conference League, featuring in five group-stage matches. Transfermarkt currently values him at €1.5 million (£1.3m).
In January, Coventry was loaned to Rotherham United, making 18 Championship appearances and providing two assists. Since his return to the London Stadium, he has struggled for playing time, featuring only in the Premier League 2 season without any minutes in the senior team.
Upon joining the Greenwich club, the 23-year-old expressed his excitement, stating, “The vision of the gaffer and the people behind the scenes with where they want to take the club. I’m from London, so I know what this club means to people and the size of it. I’m really looking forward to buying into what is going on here and being a part of it.”
Writer’s View
Conor Coventry’s arrival at Charlton Athletic is a highly anticipated signing. As one of West Ham’s top academy prospects, and considering his experience with Rotherham last season, many might have anticipated his permanent move to a Championship club. However, the appeal of reuniting with former manager Michael Appleton has led him to drop down a division, making him one of the more thrilling players to watch in the league moving forward.
Charlton has revamped their midfield by securing loan deals for Tyreeq Bakinson and Lewis Fiorini. The trio adds youthful talent eager to prove themselves, with the loaned players also aiming to impress their parent clubs. The potential addition of Jonson Clarke-Harris, on the brink of joining the Valley, makes The Addicks an exciting team to follow in the upcoming months. If they secure a spot in the top six and finish strongly, they could emerge as favorites in the playoffs. Despite currently trailing Barnsley by 13 points, Charlton has significant work ahead of them.
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