Done deal! Karlan Grant completes move from Charlton Athletic to Huddersfield Town
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Karlan Grant has completed his move to Huddersfield Town – and immediately thanked Charlton Athletic for helping develop him.
The Addicks frontman scored 14 goals in League One this season and that form attracted the attention of the Premier League club.
Glasgow Rangers were also interested in Grant, 21.
The frontman has seen a huge bump in his earnings and also a chance to play Premier League football – even if it is only for a few months with the Yorkshire outfit rooted to the bottom of the table. And his deal runs until the summer of 2022.
Grant will be available for Saturday’s match at Chelsea.
Grant said: “I would like to thank Charlton for the past 10 years. It’s been a crazy journey with some amazing times.
“I would like to thank Bows and Jacko [Johnnie Jackson] this season in particular for helping me grow as a player and also the lads who have been brilliant to me.
“Steve Avory, Joe Francis and Jason Euell have all been there since I’ve started. They’ve helped me through my journey from the academy all the way up to the first team and I can’t thank them enough for that.
“Charlton is a special club and I hope they achieve promotion this season and success in the future.”
Addicks manager Lee Bowyer put Grant straight into his starting line-up last season after the youngster impressed on loan at League Two Crawley Town in the second half of the previous campaign.
Photograph by Keith Gillard
He said: “Karlan has worked hard to improve, not just with the goals he’s scored – he’s provided goals and worked hard off out of possession. It’s a shame to lose him. He’s a young player with drive and wants to be the best he can be and play at the highest level possible.
“I spoke to Karlan and I wished him all the best. I thanked him for his efforts, for his professionalism. He’s been very good. He’s wanted to learn and he has learnt. Now he’s gone on to do what every kid wants to do and that is play in the Premier League.”
Photograph by Keith Gillard
Academy chief Avory said: “It’s been a long and enjoyable journey with Karlan since he came to us at 12-years-old. People forget he’s still only 21. He made his first-team debut at 17 and he’s really established himself in the first team this season, it can be a rollercoaster journey.
“He’s shown determination, desire and resilience along the way which is needed if you are going to prove yourself.
“He’s the best goalscorer that I’ve worked with at academy level and it’s exactly that which has got him this move.
“Karlan is a good player and a good person and we wish him the best going forward.”
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