Dale Stephens, an Oldham Athletic midfielder, was another essential signing that summer, with his passing range and creative output crucial to the Addicks’ title challenge.

Stephens, who was just 22 years old when he arrived in SE7, formed a midfield partnership with Danny Hollands for Charlton during the 2011/12 season, while also assisting captain Johnnie Jackson and top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips. However, his most remembered moments have to be some spectacular long-range goals.

He unleashed a thunderous strike in front of the Covered End to earn a point in injury time against Bury in January 2012, while another example of his ability to score from distance came when he hit an outstanding volley during a victory over Doncaster Rovers in the Championship in November 2013.

Stephens impressed for Charlton

Stephens scored four goals and assisted five times in 30 League One games as Charlton won the title in 2011/12, and he continued to shine in the Championship for the Addicks over the next two seasons.

He helped Charlton finish ninth in the second tier at the end of their first season back in 2013, which is still the club’s best league finish since being relegated from the Premier League in 2007, with goals in a thrilling 5-4 home win over Cardiff City and a 4-3 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road standing out.

The midfielder’s second last appearance for Charlton came in an FA Cup fourth-round win at Huddersfield Town in January 2014, but he was not part of the team that advanced to the competition’s quarter-finals, as he and Yann Kermorgant were sold later that month following Roland Duchatelet’s takeover of the club.

The Addicks were demoted from the Championship in 2016, but Stephens thrived at his new club, Brighton & Hove Albion.

Stephens became a Premier League player at Brighton

While Charlton failed to prevent relegation to League One in 2015/16, Stephens scored seven goals and assisted four others as Brighton finished third in the Championship.

 

One of those assists came against his previous team at the AMEX Stadium, where Charlton fell 3-2 despite taking a two-goal lead when Ademola Lookman scored the Addicks’ first goal early in the game. The Seagulls were eliminated in the play-offs that year, but they recovered and won automatic promotion the following season, with Stephens playing a key role in the team that finished one point behind champions Newcastle United.

Stephens made history as Brighton returned to the top tier after a 34-year absence, becoming a Premier League team for the first time. He made over 100 top-level appearances for Brighton and Burnley, which appeared like a possibility during his time at Charlton.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk