Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international striker Dion Charles on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Charles arrives at the University of Bolton Stadium from fellow League One club Accrington Stanley for an undisclosed fee.
He becomes the first player Bolton have paid a transfer fee for since the signing of Northern Ireland teammate Josh Magennis from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2018.
Charles made his international debut against the USA at Windsor Park in March 2021 and has gone on to earn five more caps.
He scored 30 goals in 97 games for Stanley since joining the club in 2019, finding the back of the net 20 times for the East Lancashire side in the 2019/20 campaign.
Charles was not being considered for selection by Stanley as he had not put pen to paper on a fresh deal at the club in a 'Mexican stand-off' as described by Accrington boss John Coleman.
But now he has made the move and Bolton boss Ian Evatt is excited by his club's new addition.
He told their website: “Dion is a player I’ve been aware of for a long, long time.
“He dropped into non-league football but has proved himself and fought and got his way back into the system and into League One and scored a hatful of goals for Accrington last season.
“He was touted to have some really big money moves which, fortunately for us, didn’t come off.
“We have managed to get him over the line and bring him in as one of the first players we’ve paid money for in a long time, which is a huge statement of where this club is right now and credit must go to the board, investors and everyone who has played a part in that
“We are excited to have him on board. Dion is a finisher, has terrific pace, terrific movement and relentlessly runs in behind and works defenders.
“He’s a player that we’re really looking forward to working with and seeing what the future holds.”
Charles wasn't registered in time to make a debut at Rotherham this afternoon so will have to wait until next weekend to make his League debut for the club as Ipswich Town make the trip to the north west.
Bolton currently sit 15th in League One on 26 points.
