Charlton Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:The Addicks
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Chris Powell

• Ground:The Valley
• Capacity:27,111

Addicks snare Bougherra

29 Jan 2007 - 07:57:55

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Charlton Athletic have sealed the £2.5million signing of Sheffield Wednesday defender Madjid Bougherra.

The 24-year-old Algerian had only been with the Owls since the start of the season, but had impressed enough to bring interest from both the Addicks and Everton.

However, it was Charlton that won the race, upping their offer substantially after an earlier £1.3million bid was rejected by the Hillsborough club.

Owls boss Brian Laws had earlier slammed the French-born stopper for insisting on a move, telling the Sheffield Star: "We didn't want to sell him. This move has been forced by him, his agents and Charlton more than anything.

"Madjid told the chairman that he would not play for us again if he did not get his move.

"He wanted to go, he begged to go. It put us in a difficult position. We could have made him see out his contract, but we had a value and we made Charlton pay that value if they wanted him that badly."

Bougherra scored twice in 29 appearances for Wednesday, having caught their eye during a loan spell with Crewe Alexandra last season.