Northern Ireland striker Dion Charles has moved from Accrington Stanley to fellow League One side Bolton Wanderers in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old’s move to the University of Bolton Stadium is the first time that Wanderers have paid a transfer fee for a player since signing another Northern Ireland international, Josh Magennis, from Charlton Athletic in the close season of 2018.
Trotters' boss Ian Evatt was delighted to get the signing of Charles, who scored 30 goals in 97 matches for Stanley, over the line so early in the transfer window.
Speaking to Bolton’s website, Evatt said: “Dion is a player I’ve been aware of for a long, long time.
“He dropped into non-league but has proved 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,” added Evatt, “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, who was born in Preston but qualifies for Northern Ireland through his Belfast-born grandmother, was given his international debut by Ian Baraclough in the friendly against the USA at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park last March and now has a total of six full caps to his name.
