Manchester City midfielder joins Charlton Athletic on loan

Charlton Athletic have signed Manchester City midfielder Lewis Fiorini for the remainder of the season.

It is the second loan addition from the reigning Premier League champions in the current campaign but follows hot on the heels of Slobodan Tedic’s temporary stay being cut short at the midway point.

Fiorini, 21, was born in Manchester but has been capped all the way up from U15 to U21 level for Scotland.

He has previously had loans at NAC Breda, Lincoln City and Blackpool – the last two featuring under current Addicks head coach Michael Appleton.

Fiorini has played in pretty much every position across the middle of the park, in both a defensive and advanced role, and has scored six goals and collected four assists in 39 League One matches.

He spent last season on loan at Blackpool and scored his first goal for them in their 3-2 defeat against Millwall in late April.

“I’m buzzing to join Charlton,” said Fiorini. “It is a big club and obviously having worked with the gaffer before the move was attractive to me.

“He gave me my first games in English football. He made me feel confident and put his trust in me, which as a player is everything you want – a manager who believes in you and trusts you.”

Appleton added: “Lewis is a talented player. He is one of the best that I have worked with that receives it on his back foot and wants to play forward – he’s always looking to play forward. He brings a bit more creativity in the middle of the park.

“He’s a top-class character who comes from a really fantastic, humble family. He’s a proper Manchester boy and he’s got a nasty side to him as well – he’ll put his foot in. He’s definitely up there with as a good as I’ve worked with.”