Charlton and the success of Ademola Lookman

Turn the corner in the corridor leading to the sports hall at St Thomas the Apostle School and Sixth Form College (STAC) and, almost hidden away out of sight, you might miss the framed, match-worn Charlton Athletic shirt.   The display also includes a photo of a young Ademola Lookman.

The reigning African footballer of the year is, without question, the most successful player to emerge from STAC, a state-funded all-boys Catholic school in Southwark, south-east London. Yet Lookman’s is just one of several jerseys displayed on that wall, illustrating the sporting achievements of so many former pupils.

He achieved excellent academic results at STAC, with four A*s and five As in his GCSEs, before being picked up late, at 17, by Charlton. He rose rapidly through their academy to the first team and made 49 appearances before a Premier League move to Everton at age 19. A further 48 appearances on Merseyside led to a 2019 transfer to Germany’s RB Leipzig and subsequent Premier League loans with Fulham and Leicester City, until he settled on a permanent deal with Atalanta in August 2022.

“Ademola was academically driven because there was not even a thought back then about him taking up a scholarship let alone a professional contract,” PE supremo Reynolds commented.

Sarr and Lookman reflect on happy times at Charlton

Naby Sarr reflects on his five years at Charlton in an interesting in depth interview with Benjy Nurick: https://medium.com/@benjynurick/naby-sarr-exclusive-i-think-its-a-good-story-i-m-really-happy-with-how-things-turned-around-789eaa15da5 

Ademola Lookman, who scored the winning goal for Fulham against Sheffield United yesterday, reflects on his 'happy time' at Charlton, noting the talent that comes out of South-East London: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/20/ademola-lookman-i-had-to-make-decisions-that-didnt-put-my-family-at-risk

Elsewhere yesterday Lyle Taylor missed a sitter for Nottingham Forest but Omar Bogle scored a penalty for Doncaster. 

Ricky Holmes has rejoined his boyhood club, Southend, at the age of 33/

Everton want £22m for Lookman

Everton have turned down a renewed offer of £15m for former Addick Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig. The Toffees value the winger at £22m. Lookman spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Leipzig where he scored five goals in 11 matches.

Charlton certainly know how to identify and develop talent. I cannot recall whether there was a sell on clause in Lookman's case or whether Roland wanted the readies up front. However, even if there is some money to come, it is open to question whether it would be added to Lee Bowyer's war chest.

Welcome, Fredrik Ulvestad

The official site has announced that Fredrik Ulvestad has signed on a year's loan from Burnley. The Norway international is described as a box-to-box midfielder: New signing

Career details for the 24-year old who has a footballing father and brother here: Fredrik Ulvestad

Despite weeks of speculation, most recently focusing on Crystal Palace, it looks as if Ademola Lookman is staying at The Valley. According to Richard Cawley and other sources, the club has turned down a series of bids from Sheffield Wednesday for Morgan Fox, the last one at over £1.25m.

Palace deal for Lookman?

As the transfer deadline nears, Charlton are trying to offload Ademola Lookman to Crystal Palace: Over to Sainsbury's

So it's a double delight for the Addickted: losing a talented player and seeing him go to a rival club.

No release clause for Lookman

Unlike Joe Gomez, Ademola Lookman does not have a release fee clause in his contract, so the Addicks can name their price: Lookman

A fee of £6m - £7m seems achievable, which should just about offset the sum Charlton are set to lose through relegation and customer dissatisfaction.

Charlton are set to make a move for Colchester midfielder George Moncur who does not want to play in League Two with the U's: George Moncur. A fee of around £150,000 is expected.

Ambition at The Valley

There's plenty of ambition of display at League One Charlton with the club targeting Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, widely regarded as a hot property as a loan target: Loan target

Charlton continue to pursue Chris Wilder as their new head coach. The Cobblers boss has lost interest in Bolton: Wilder

Liverpool have entered the contest for the signature of Ademola Lookman with a fee of £6m being mentioned: Lookman

But Spurs could offer £8m: Auction

Charlton win bonkers owners derby

Belgium beat Italy at Elland Road today with the Addicks winning the bonkers owners derby. Lookman probably added to his selling price.

Pope had to make a good save with his feet early in the game at Elland Road as he faced a one on one from Leeds. It looked like a 4-4-1-1 formation with Harriott and Lookman out wide and Gudmundsson behind Vetokele.

Charlton won a free kick 25 yards out after Lookman was fouled. Lookman’s free kick was over the wall but just wide. Leeds fans started to sing ‘Your owner is a ****, so is ours.’ The 363 Charlton fans subsequently started a chant of ‘We want Roland out.’

Diarra got a yellow card for a foul on Wood. Pope had to tip the resulting free kick over the bar. He claimed the corner well.

A strike from Gudmundsson hit the foot of the post from 25 yards.

Around the half hour mark Leeds started to apply a bit more pressure, but Bridcutt shot high and wide from distance.

Pope claimed Coyle’s low cross after Leeds advanced down the Charlton left.

Leeds won a corner after Pope tipped the ball out following a good block by Jackson.

After a great move down the left involving Lookman and Fox, Gudmundsson took the opportunity from Fox’s cross and scored with a low strike.

Charlton won a corner taken by Lookman but it went out for a Charlton throw.

Pope flew out of his area to deny Wood with a diving header. Vetokele put in a shot, but it was blocked in the area.

Teixeira won a corner in time added on.

HT: 0-1

Gudmundsson nearly played in Vetokele, but he was too slow to react and the keeper gathered.

A great strike from Lookman into the bottom corner put Charlton 2-0 ahead on 49 minutes, the whole move starting with a Fanni nutmeg of Dallas who was subsequently taken off.

The referee pulled play back for a Charlton free kick despite Vetokele racing through on goal. What about advantage?

A header from Wood hit the bar. Bamba fired the rebound into the side netting.

Charlton won a corner, Bamba fell over after a collision and the referee gave a free kick to Leeds.

From a Leeds corner Cooper headed well over. Fanni put in good defensive work as Charlton looked as if they might be under pressure.

Leeds won a corner, but the ball was headed over by Botaka.

Charlton made a good break away, but Harriott’s shot was just wide. Kashi was booked for a late challenge.

Bamba got a free header from a free kick to make it 1-2 on 71 minutes. Pope was furious with his defence. Suk Young came on for Gudmundsson.

Pope saved an angled shot from Antenucci who had come on a sub. Pope claimed the corner at the second attempt.

Pope saved well with his feet in a one on one with Wood after a free kick. Vetokele made way for Makienok on 82 minutes.

Fox dealt with a cross well with a header. Harriott blocked a cross at the expense of a Leeds corner. Makienok headed the ball away.

Leeds threatened with a series of attacks, but Charlton held firm. Kashi, who had had a good game on his return, went down injured. Ba replaced Lookman on 88 minutes.

Six minutes were added on. Kashi put the ball behind for a Leeds corner. Diarra headed clear at the near post.

Charlton broke away well, Ba played in Harriott but his shot was blocked for a Charlton corner. Kashi gave away a foul.

Three balls into the box were headed away by Makienok. Pope had to save as Cook tried his luck, leading to a corner.

All square at Portman Road

Despite a good performance, Charlton could only secure a point with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich this evening.

Solly, Lookman and Sanogo were brought in for Charlton at Portman Road with Motta, Suk-Young and Vetokele going to the bench. 552 Addicks were present in a crowd of 17,787.

Charlton made a positive start and a free kick was awarded for a foul on Lookman. A shot from Gudmundsson took a slight deflection and went straight at the keeper.

On six minutes Sears put in a shot for Ipswich which went narrowly wide with Fox out of position.

There was a mix up between Berra and the keeper, but Berra got the ball back before Sanogo was able to pounce.

Gudmundsson required treatment after a clash of heads from which he came off worst. Motta came on to replace him.

On 21 minutes a shot from Harriott was saved and the Sanogo follow up was blocked. A shot from Pringle drew a great save from Pope. The Charlton defending was poor. The corner was cleared.

Charlton were hit on the break, the defending was poor, but Pope was able to save from Sears. The home crowd were very quiet, apart from the occasional despairing cry of ‘Blue Army’.

Harriott put a ball through for Cousins, he passed to Sanogo when he should have shot and Lookman fired wide.

Sears shot high over the bar, Tex intercepted well. A shot from Pitman went well wide.

Charlton won the first corner of the evening on 45 minutes after an odd attempted tackle midway through the Tractors half. Tex’s header from Lookman’s corner was tipped over by the corner. In the ensuing play after the second corner Lookman put the ball wide.

In time added om, Pope claimed a corner well under pressure. It had been a decent performance from Charlton, but with relegation rivals going ahead, more was needed.

HT: Tractors 0, Addicks 0

Former Addick Luke Varney was brought on in the second half in place of Pringle. Teixeira was booked in the opening minute for pulling back Sears. Chambers slipped taking the free kick and it hit the wall.

A Harriott strike was deflected behind for a corner, Sanogo got his head on the ball, but it went wide. Charlton were slow defensively to deal with a cross, giving Douglas a free header, but he put the ball over.

Lookman won a corner after Chambers got a foot to his cross. The move ended in a goal kick after Teixera headed over.

A shot from Sears was blocked by Teixera for a throw in. Douglas shot well over. The home crowd was waking up as Ipswich came into the game more. Pope saved comfortably from Pitman.

Harriott fired over from a tight angle on 60 minutes. Pope cleared with a great punch. Charlton got down the left well, but Fox put in a poor cross. McGoldrick came on for Feeney.

Cousins put in a shot from distance, but it was punched away by the keeper. Pope had sent Lookman on his way who teed up Cousins. Lookman reached the byline, but Smith dealt with the cross. A great ball was provided by Solly, but Harriott put it in the side netting.

Texeira conceded an Ipswich corner. The move ended in a goal kick. On 74 minutes Harriott was replaced by Vetokele.

A Lookman shot from the edge of the box was blocked. The latest foul by Knudsen got nothing more than a talking to from the referee.

Good play by Lookman led to a shot saved well by the keeper who then had to deny Sanogo Ipswich took off Pitman and brought on Bishop.

Cousins was booked for delaying an Ipswich free kick. Motta was withdrawn in favour of Makienok. Many fans would like to have seen Jackson came on.

Fox won Charlton a corner when his cross was blocked. Varney nearly scored an own goal from Lookman’s corner. The second corner was punched away.

On 90 minutes Diarra went down injured off the off the pitch and did not return. A McGoldrick cross was claimed by Pope. Fox won Charlton another corner in added time. The corner was cleared. A cross by Fox won Charlton another corner. It was a good corner by Lookman, but everyone missed it.

MK Dons lost, but Fulham were ahead at Preston and Rotherham were drawing with Bristol City.

Ademola Lookman interview

Ademola Lookman talks to the SLP about how he benefitted from the Charlton academy, but gives implicit confirmation that he will be leaving in the summer: Lookman

Bore draw at The Valley

MK Dons won an early free kick at The Valley but Pope claimed it confidently. Maynad managed to get into the box, but his effort was tame. Charlton were defending deep from the off. It was a nervous start for the Addicks on a wet evening.

A good shot from Gudmundsson was blocked on five minutes.

Suk Young put in a dangerous cross, but it was cleared.

Murphy went to ground easily looking for a penalty, but the referee ruled that it was a goal kick.

Harriott put in a good run going round three players but he was unlucky when his last touch ended in a goal kick.

Charlton had a spell of possession in the opposition half, but Fox put the ball in the Jimmy Seed.

Motta’s cross was headed behind for a corner after good interplay between Harriott and Motta. Gudmundsson’s delivery was poor and the ball was cleared.

Motta put an excellent ball across the pitch to Gudmundsson, but the ball was claimed by Martin clad in green in the Dons goal.

The visitors won a corner. Gudmundsson intercepted and got the ball away.

Charlton couldn’t break MK Dons down. The visitors were defending in depth and Charlton couldn’t get behind the back four with a pedestrian build up. A shot from Murphy went wide.

Pope made a poor clearance and then a decent save at the expense of a corner. The Addickted chanted for Sanogo who was felt to be incapable of starting two games in a few days.

Tex did well to put the ball behind for a corner. The ball was headed clear.

Gudmundsson got in behind, but Martin smothered the ball.

Harriott won Charlton a corner after the impressive Motta linked up with him well. Gudmundsson over hit the ball and it went out for a goal kick.

Charlton had a quick counter attack and Cousins put in good work, but Makienok and Suk-Young were both poor.

The first half ended unusually on 45 minutes. It had been uninspiring, but the Covered End gave the team a rousing cheer.

HT 0-0

Bowditch got a yellow card for a foul on Suk-Young. Play continued to be scrappy and lackimg in quality. The Covered End again chanted for Sanogo.

Great defending from Tex with Palace loan player Williams going down by the hoardings.

Williams was taken off and Hall came on. Tex had a header on target. A shot from Cousins was just inches wide of the post, after good work by Harriott. The crowd came alive. Pope had to make a great save from the substitute Hall. The Addicks just about dealt with the corner.

Harriott, rather surprisingly came off and kicked away the ball in frustration. There were boos followed by applause as Harriott kicked the dugout. There were chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ from the Addickted. Sanogo came on. Gudmundsson went on the right in a 4-4-2 formation.

A nasty challenge by Bowditch on Tex went unpunished. Bowditch was taken off and Reeves came on.

The visitors won a corner, but it was cleared. Maynard was replaced by Revell.

Poyet came off and Bergdich came on. He got a round of applause from the MK Dons fans. Bergdich went on the left and Suk Young switched to the right of midfield.

The visitors had a big chance, but Fox somehow blocked Hall’s shot from eight yards. The fans started to chant Lookman’s name, but a deal has probably already been done for him and he can’t be injured.

Bergdich put in a great ball, but it somehow squirmed past Sanogo. It was arguably the best chance of the evening for the Addicks.

Charlton won a corner. Gudmundsson’s corner was poor and it ended in an offside decision. There was the biggest cheer of the night as Makienok finally came off and Lookman came on.

Lookman struck the ball off a defender’s hand, but no penalty was awarded. Charlton won a corner. A second corner followed. A shot from Sanogo was blocked. MK Dons broke and won a corner. They then got a second. Pope claimed it.

Lookman won a free kick. It was taken by Lookman, and it was a good delivery, but the keeper claimed it. Lookman won another free kick. It was delivered to the near post, but went out for a corner. Four minutes were added on. A second corner followed. Word came through that Rotherham had gone ahead against Boro.

Yet another cynical foul on Lookman and Carruthers was booked. In the final minute Carruthers put a great chance over the bar.

Sanogo was sent off in the final minute for elbowing a MK Dons player off the ball.

Charlton had a final corner but it was headed away.

A draw was the result I feared tonight and the Franchisees got what they wanted. Lookman made a real difference when he came on, but there was a lack of quality in the final third.

Lookman to be sold to highest bidder

Ademola Lookman is close to signing a four year contract, but this is designed to protect the club's investment. He will be sold to the highest bidder in the summer, with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Spurs among the front runners: Lookman

Farewell, Vaz Te and Moussa

The contracts of Franck Moussa and Ricardo Vaz Te have been terminated. However, despite interest from leading Premiership clubs (and Crystal Palace), Ademola Lookman has signed a new four year contract and is staying: Lookman

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has moved over from Ajax on loan for the rest of the season: Yaya Sanogo

Experienced 34-year old French defender Rod Fanni, who can play at right or centre back, flew into London this evening to sign rather than taking the customary route by Eurostar: Fanfare. Not sure where that leaves Roger Johnson.

Decisive victory for Riga's men

Charlton beat fellow relegation strugglers Rotherham United 4-1 this afternoon to move just a point behind Bristol City who drew at home to Birmingham.

Simon Makienok scored twice to help the Addicks end their 11-game winless run. The Dane opened the scoring early on from Zakarya Bergdich's cut back before Chris Burke levelled for the home side. Igor Vetokele then finished off a well-worked counter-attack to put Jose Riga's side ahead at half-time.

Makienok headed in to make it 3-1, then Jonson Clarke-Harris blazed over a Millers penalty before Ademola Lookman rounded off victory in added time.

Charlton took the lead after just four minutes when Bergdich cut the ball back for Makienok to smash in. They did not stay in front long as Rotherham's Burke scored his first goal for the club on his home debut, receiving Danny Ward's pass before slotting under Henderson.

After Grant Ward had shot wide for the Millers, Johann Berg Gudmundsson crossed for Vetokele, who turned in from close range after a rapid counter attack. Henderson then produced a diving save to keep out Danny Ward's left footed strike before Makienok met Gudmundsson's pinpoint delivery to give Charlton a two-goal lead.

Rotherham had a chance to get back into the game when Clarke-Harris was brought down by Jorge Teixeira, but the striker smashed his attempt over. Substitute Lookman slid in a fourth to complete a hat-trick of Gudmundsson assists.

In remarks after the game, José Roga was critical of Tony Watt's commitment and also that of Ricardo Vaz Te: I want committed players

The game got good coverage on the Football League Show including the banners. Chris Powell was interviewed and emphasised that Riga knew the Championship.

Six pointer at the New York Stadium

Charlton will still be without Ademola Lookman for tomorrow's six pointer against Rotherham. Latest press reports value him at £6m, but he may be staying at The Valley for now.

Rotherham have won five of their last eight (D3) against Charlton - although all those victories came between 1981 and 1983. Charlton's last league win in Rotherham came at Millmoor in April 1963 - they haven't won any of their 10 previous visits (D3 L7). The Millers hold just one win in their last five Championship matches (D1 L3).

They have, however, acted more wisely than Charlton in the transfer window, as indeed have Bristol City and other relegation rivals. It has been confirmed that Tony Watt has gone on loan to Blackburn with a fee agreed for a permanent move in the summer: Tony Watt

Charlton haven't won in the Championship since November 21st; going 11 games without a victory now. This is the second time they've managed to go 11 matches without winning this season (also August to November).

Rotherham have kept three clean sheets in their last four league games at home, but did concede three to QPR last time out. The Addicks have gone eight Championship matches without keeping a clean sheet, only Fulham are on a longer run currently than them (17).

The odds don't favour Charlton: Rotherham 5/6, Draw 5/2, Charlton 10/3.

Charlton's struggles are no surprise to Igor Vetokele who is facing relegation for the first time in his career: Igor Vetokele

Lookman may stay

Despite interest from several Premier League clubs, leading him to being described as 'Britain's most wanted teenager', Ademola Lookman may well stay at Charlton where he feels he will have better opportunities to develop and mature as a player: Lookman

Lookman fit for Blackburn game

Ademola Lookman should be fit for Jose Riga's first home game on his return to The Valley: Lookman

However, as Premier League clubs circle for his signature, he has not agreed a new contract at Charlton.

Chelsea and Manchester City are leading the race for his signature, but other clubs are interested, most recently Everton. A fee of £5m is now being talked about in the press.

He has been named 'the most wanted teenager in English football': Wanted

Arsenal think they have won Lookman race

Arsenal think they have beaten Manchester City to the signature of Ademola Lookman: Ademola Lookman

A fee of £2m is envisaged.

Palace take a look at Lookman

Crystal Palace have scouted Ademola Lookman, but it doesn't look as if they are poised to make a bid: Glaziers

It's getting close to a majority of Premiership clubs who have now taken a look at him.

Spurs offer loan back for Lookman

Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer a loan back of Ademola Lookman to Charlton in return for his signature, according to The Times this morning.

A number of other clubs are, of course, interested in the youngster.