Charlton Athletic Sign Championship Defender

Charlton Athletic has announced the signing of Championship defender Alex Mitchell from Millwall for an undisclosed fee signing a three-year contract with The Addicks.

The 22-year-old defender had been on loan at fellow League One side Lincoln City last season, in what was the second-best defence in League One last season. Mitchell becomes the club’s fourth summer signing.

Upon speaking to the club’s media team, Alex had this to say.

“I’m very happy to get it done early doors. As soon as I knew Charlton were interested it was a no-brainer for me. It’s a massive club. I played against Charlton last season and last time I came to The Valley I was in awe of the stadium. I thought the fanbase was top so I’m really looking forward to it.

“My chats with Nathan [Jones] have been really positive. He made it clear that he wanted me and to feel valued like that was a big part in me coming here. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Who is Alex Mitchell?

Alex a product of the Millwall academy, has had a total of four loan spells away from The Den, while only making one appearance for Millwall.

His first loan spell was to the National League with Bromley where he made ten appearances in the last month of the 20/21 season, as well as playing in their 3-2 playoff defeat to Hartlepool United

Upon returning, to Millwall he was sent on loan to join ex-Millwall manager Kenny Jackett at Leyton Orient, where he would go on to make 26 appearances in League Two, being phased out at the start of Richie Welllens’s tenure before returning and starting two of the last five games of the season.

For the 22/23 season, the defender moved North of the border to join Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone on loan, where he would go on to make 29 appearances scoring the one in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic.

The 23/24 season, was arguably Mitchell’s best to date when he joined Lincoln City appearing in 36 games in League One scoring once. The defender would be one of The Imps’ most consistent performers as they enjoyed a 16-game unbeaten run just missing out on the playoffs on the final day,

Suring Up The Defence

Charlton kept just five clean sheets last season in the League which was 2nd worst in the League (Carlisle being the worst with 3), and Mitchell was part of a Lincoln defence that was the second-best. Lincoln also plays a very similar system to Charlton in terms of having three centre-backs with two wing-backs, which will allow Mitchell to seamlessly fit into the backline.

Due to Lincoln City’s extremely positive second half of the season, if you look at his defensive stats per 90 they aren’t high in terms of percentile, but watching Mitchell you will see a defender who is extremely strong in the air and strong in a tackle, he is by all accounts a very old fashioned defender who loves defending. My only concern with Mitchell is his playing out from the back ability, in which his short passing is not the best. However, with the way Nathan Jones likes to play, I think Mitchell is perfectly suited to the role, and partnering up with Lucas Ness and January recruit Macauley Gillesphey Charlton should have a good base to build from.