Gavin Kilkenny excited at linking back up with Dean Holden at Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic have signed Bournemouth midfielder Gavin Kilkenny on loan for the remainder of their League One campaign.

The 22-year-old Irishman had spent the first half of this season on loan at Stoke City.

Addicks boss Dean Holden had a spell working with Kilkenny while he was part of the City coaching staff.

Kilkenny is Charlton’s fourth signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Macauley Bonne, Todd Kane and Matt Penney.

“I’m delighted to be joining Charlton,” said Kilkenny. “It’s obviously a huge club and it’s a really great opportunity for me.

“I really enjoyed working with Dean Holden at Stoke, albeit briefly, and I want to repay the faith he has shown in me by bringing me here. Hopefully we can start pushing up the table to get this club back where it belongs.”

Holden added:  “Gavin is a player I know well, having worked with him at Stoke. We are very fortunate we could get him, especially given the number of games he played in Bournemouth’s promotion campaign to the Premier League last season. He has got bags of energy, very good technical ability and a top class attitude.”

Kilkenny had been capped by Ireland at youth level, from their U15s to U21s.

He is set to make his debut for Charlton this weekend at Exeter City.

“I don’t want to be forgotten about,” Kilkenny, who has not played first-team football since the end of August, told the42 recently. “It can happen very quickly and very easily. I’m not stupid, I’m nearly 23. I have to get back playing and reminding people what I am capable of. I just need to show people I am still here, you know.”

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