Charlton Athletic are delighted to confirm the signing of left-back Ben Purrington on loan from Rotherham United until the end of the season.
The arrival of 22-year-old, who has played 23 games in League One this season on loan at AFC Wimbledon, ends Lee Bowyer’s search for a left-sided full-back.
Bowyer has been especially keen to bolster his options at left-back since the injury to Lewis Page in October.
Purrington becomes the Addicks third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Jonny Williams and Chris Maxwell.
Speaking of his latest acquisition, Bowyer said: “Finally, we’ve been able to bring someone in to fill that position. We’ve been so unbalanced since we lost Pagey [Lewis Page] and Ben is a natural left-footer that will give us that width and get forward.
“I spoke to Richie Barker at Rotherham and he recommended him. He’s honest, steady and a good one-v-one defender that will bring us stability down the left. And the big positive is that he’s played every game at Wimbledon and is ready to go.”
Head of Recruitment Steve Gallen added: “He’s consistent. I’ve watched him quite a few times and so have our scouts. He’s got a nice left foot, he gets forward and he’s a big lad, so he’ll help us physically and with set pieces in both boxes. I think what Lee in particular liked about him is his ball retention. He keeps the ball very, very well and he’s a good, steady, consistent performer.”
Purrington began his career with Plymouth Argyle where he played 52 games in League Two before earning a move to Rotherham United. He played 10 games for them in the Championship and then 10 games for them last season in League One before his successful loan spell with AFC Wimbledon this season.
Purrington said: “I’m delighted to get it done and, hopefully, I can help push on in this promotion campaign. I’ve played against Charlton a few times, they play good football and have some really good players so I’m looking forward to playing here.
"Every time I’ve played at The Valley, it’s been a great atmosphere. It’s a great pitch and a great stadium and I can’t wait to be on that side of things with the supporters behind me.”
In a way glad that Bowyer has gotten the experienced Left-Back that he wanted over an untried youngster from a Premier League side - Dont overly remember him from the game at the Valley earlier in the season though
Can never have too many Bens at the club (apart from that pratt who was commercial manager and went to Norwich)
I can feel OahAhh winding up for a moan about "look how far we've sunk, loaning players from Rotherham" and he'd have a point but I suspect this leaves Bowyer more room to play Page when he is ever fit.
Good signing, now just the lad in from Villa and will have been a great window, especially when the treatment room is less congested we will have quality in all positions as well as enabling Bowyer to rotate when needed during the run in.
If this means Solly back at RB then I'm happy. Quite frankly, if signing Ben Zephaniah meant Solly would be back at RB then I'd have been happy, but this one has nearly as good a surname and some Championship experience, which is a bonus.
Was he recalled from Wimbledon just to be loaned to us or was he headed back anyway? Be nice to have a left back playing left back
An interesting question especially as he's featured regularly for them unless Wimnledon now have other options or it is budget driven. Anyway he's our player now, welcome and best of luck Ben.
Sort of moderately whelmed at this. Good to have another LB in as a quick fix but with young Stevenson around I was expecting the loanee to be a bit more of a step up rather than someone who is not really that much more experienced. Nevertheless, in Gallen and LB we trust so welcome Ben and I hope you give us the width we need.
Good signing, now just the lad in from Villa and will have been a great window, especially when the treatment room is less congested we will have quality in all positions as well as enabling Bowyer to rotate when needed during the run in.
This one came out of the blue, hopefully the same will happen again and we'll get someone more proven/experienced than the Villa striker.
Was he recalled from Wimbledon just to be loaned to us or was he headed back anyway? Be nice to have a left back playing left back
Looks like he was recalled specifically to sign for us.
Left-back Ben Purrington has left AFC Wimbledon with Championship club Rotherham having exercised their option to recall him with immediate effect.
Ben joined Wimbledon on loan in August and he made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal, which came in the 3-0 Emirates FA Cup victory at FC Halifax (the picture above shows him celebrating that goal). Ben's loan spell here ended on a winning note with the 22-year-old helping Wimbledon into the fourth round of the famous knockout competition with victory at Fleetwood Town.
Following his departure from Wimbledon, Ben has signed for Charlton Athletic on loan.
We can also confirm that goalkeeper Tom King has officially been recalled by Millwall. Tom made 16 appearances for AFC Wimbledon after joining on loan from the Championship club.
All at AFC Wimbledon thank both players for their contributions and we wish them every success in the future.
Was he recalled from Wimbledon just to be loaned to us or was he headed back anyway? Be nice to have a left back playing left back
The loan was for a season
Unless Wimbledon sent him back (which In doubt) it's a bit of a slap in the face for them, to have a player recalled by the parent club and then immediately loaned out again to a club in the same division!
Sort of moderately whelmed at this. Good to have another LB in as a quick fix but with young Stevenson around I was expecting the loanee to be a bit more of a step up rather than someone who is not really that much more experienced. Nevertheless, in Gallen and LB we trust so welcome Ben and I hope you give us the width we need.
Stevenson could be great, but from my one viewing of him the other week I didn't think he looked ready to play for the first team.
I don't want to sound harsh, as that's almost always the way with youngsters breaking through for the first time, especially defenders - he played with plenty of ambition to get forward and looked good physically, and I'm not knocking him as a talent for the future at all - but I think we need someone who's played a decent number of games, and this lad has.
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The arrival of 22-year-old, who has played 23 games in League One this season on loan at AFC Wimbledon, ends Lee Bowyer’s search for a left-sided full-back.
Bowyer has been especially keen to bolster his options at left-back since the injury to Lewis Page in October.
Purrington becomes the Addicks third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Jonny Williams and Chris Maxwell.
Speaking of his latest acquisition, Bowyer said: “Finally, we’ve been able to bring someone in to fill that position. We’ve been so unbalanced since we lost Pagey [Lewis Page] and Ben is a natural left-footer that will give us that width and get forward.
“I spoke to Richie Barker at Rotherham and he recommended him. He’s honest, steady and a good one-v-one defender that will bring us stability down the left. And the big positive is that he’s played every game at Wimbledon and is ready to go.”
Head of Recruitment Steve Gallen added: “He’s consistent. I’ve watched him quite a few times and so have our scouts. He’s got a nice left foot, he gets forward and he’s a big lad, so he’ll help us physically and with set pieces in both boxes. I think what Lee in particular liked about him is his ball retention. He keeps the ball very, very well and he’s a good, steady, consistent performer.”
Purrington began his career with Plymouth Argyle where he played 52 games in League Two before earning a move to Rotherham United. He played 10 games for them in the Championship and then 10 games for them last season in League One before his successful loan spell with AFC Wimbledon this season.
Purrington said: “I’m delighted to get it done and, hopefully, I can help push on in this promotion campaign. I’ve played against Charlton a few times, they play good football and have some really good players so I’m looking forward to playing here.
"Every time I’ve played at The Valley, it’s been a great atmosphere. It’s a great pitch and a great stadium and I can’t wait to be on that side of things with the supporters behind me.”
I can feel OahAhh winding up for a moan about "look how far we've sunk, loaning players from Rotherham" and he'd have a point but I suspect this leaves Bowyer more room to play Page when he is ever fit.
Welcome and good luck.
Just the forward to come now and we're done.
Hopefully that's the last time we have to play Solly on the left
Be nice to have a left back playing left back
Play well and play hard - let's get those wins.
Left-back Ben Purrington has left AFC Wimbledon with Championship club Rotherham having exercised their option to recall him with immediate effect.
Ben joined Wimbledon on loan in August and he made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal, which came in the 3-0 Emirates FA Cup victory at FC Halifax (the picture above shows him celebrating that goal). Ben's loan spell here ended on a winning note with the 22-year-old helping Wimbledon into the fourth round of the famous knockout competition with victory at Fleetwood Town.
Following his departure from Wimbledon, Ben has signed for Charlton Athletic on loan.
We can also confirm that goalkeeper Tom King has officially been recalled by Millwall. Tom made 16 appearances for AFC Wimbledon after joining on loan from the Championship club.
All at AFC Wimbledon thank both players for their contributions and we wish them every success in the future.
I remember us all being pretty peeved when Birmingham came and took Bouazza from us because Fulham wanted him at a club doing better in the League
Unless Wimbledon sent him back (which In doubt) it's a bit of a slap in the face for them, to have a player recalled by the parent club and then immediately loaned out again to a club in the same division!
I don't want to sound harsh, as that's almost always the way with youngsters breaking through for the first time, especially defenders - he played with plenty of ambition to get forward and looked good physically, and I'm not knocking him as a talent for the future at all - but I think we need someone who's played a decent number of games, and this lad has.