Exclusive: Charlton midfielder George Dobson triggers contract extension

George Dobson has triggered an option in his Charlton Athletic contract which keeps him at the League One club until the summer of 2024.

The 25-year-old midfielder has been a key cog for the South Londoners since joining on a free transfer in July 2021.

Dobson has made 36 appearances this season and was handed the captaincy by Dean Holden in late December.

The former Sunderland, AFC Wimbledon and West Ham youngster won the club’s Player of the Year award last season.

Dobson’s game time this campaign has activated an extension to his terms, which had been due to expire at the end of June.

Holden, who was assistant manager when Dobson was at Walsall, told the South London Press: “Coming into the role I didn’t know a lot about anyone, but there was one guy (Dobson) I knew about, although it was a long time ago.

“I knew about his personality from coming from West Ham as a young player. I had an idea I was going to come in and make him the skipper, from the research I’d done. And after a day or two of seeing him I thought ‘yeah, this is right’. I think that says everything about what I feel about him.

“I made him the captain for my first game. He’s got the personality to do that – such a big club. Fans can relate to him – the way that he plays.

“He’s still got lots of improvement in him and he knows that. We sit and chat. We’ve got a really good, open relationship. He comes in here every week, sometimes twice a week. I speak to a lot of players but he’s one I get a guide for everything.

“He’s so committed to doing well in his career but for the club to improve. He’s dead honest on stuff. I’ll ask him about things behind the scenes at the club – the dressing room – and he’ll be really good with his advice. He’s been here quite a while and he has a good feel for where we are at as a dressing room, whether we need a day out for team bonding or stuff like that.

“He’s a good conduit for me. His performances have been good, he’s been really consistent. At the weekend he was excellent at Exeter.”

Charlton’s takeover negotiations have failed to complete yet and that has left the club in an element of limbo in terms of offering longer-term contracts.

Asked if he would like Dobson on an even lengthier deal, Holden said: “It’s difficult for me to comment. Ideally you’d want to commit him to something longer but there is the option (which has activated) that is there. I don’t really get too concerned with that. At the moment he is doing a fine job.”

Dobson looks a strong contender to be the club’s Player of the Year for a second campaign running.

“He is Mr Consistent – you always know what you’re going to get from his performances,” said Holden. “He’s well aware there is more to add to his game. We saw with his pass through to Jes [Rak-Sakyi] for the goal at Exeter, he can do that more.

“Maybe before he has been pigeon-holed as the guy who sits in front of the back four or back five. He has got that feel in his boots, that passing range, to do that.

“I’d like to think come the end of the season there will be a few more players that will be entering the realms of nominees for that role (Player of the Year). But if you think about the first half of the season there are probably only a handful who would be up for it, based on consistency. There has been a lot of change in the team.

“If we picked it now then, yeah, he’d probably be in the top three.”

TOP PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS