Charlton Athletic have officially welcomed aboard seasoned winger Kazenga LuaLua, formerly of Brighton.
LuaLua, 33, who boasts 182 appearances for the Seagulls, was most recently contracted to Greek outfit Levadiakos in 2023. He has now inked a short-term deal, set to run until the culmination of April 2024.
Manager Nathan Jones expressed his elation at LuaLua’s arrival, citing their previous collaboration at Brighton and Luton Town. “He’s someone that we haven’t got here,” Jones remarked. “We wanted to have that option so it was an ideal opportunity.”
Having kickstarted his career with Newcastle United, LuaLua expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with Jones, citing their fruitful past collaborations. “I know the gaffer from when I was at Brighton and also at Luton,” LuaLua stated. “I’ve had a good time with him. It’s a pleasure for me to be working with him again because I’ve always learned a lot.”
Charlton’s recent form has been promising, with an unbeaten streak of seven League One games since Jones assumed the managerial reins from Michael Appleton in February. Jones expressed eagerness about LuaLua’s potential involvement in the upcoming fixture against Fleetwood Town, pending international clearance.
Hailing from a footballing family, with elder sibling Lomana LuaLua having plied his trade as a striker for Newcastle, LuaLua’s addition injects further depth into Charlton’s squad as they currently occupy the 15th spot in League One, enjoying a comfortable 10-point cushion above the relegation zone.
