Former Charlton Athletic defender joins AFC Wimbledon

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

AFC Wimbledon have made their seventh signing of the summer transfer window – snapping up former Charlton centre-back Terell Thomas.

The 20-year-old east Londoner left the Addicks to sign on a free transfer for Wigan Athletic last season but only made three substitute appearances in League One.

Thomas was loaned to Sutton United at the end of December and totalled 19 appearances in the National League.

Dons’ first-team coach Simon Bassey told the club’s website: “I first watched Terell when he was in the Charlton set-up at the age of 17.

“He was really fit then and he’s done a lot of growing since. We have been aware of him for a long time and his progression has been good. He has developed his physical size and he has a great attitude. We’ve spoken to a lot of people about him – he is a really good kid, humble and hard-working. He’s got really good qualities that we like to attract to the place. As a player, he has come on in leaps and bounds, so we are delighted to bring him here.

“Terell spent a lot of last season on loan at Sutton United. We watched him there a bit, he did really well, and the people at Sutton loved him. Terell thought his game-time at Wigan this season would probably not be as great as he would have liked. He’s had a taste of playing first-team through his loan spells at Woking and Sutton. He has a real thirst to play games and we hope to give him that stage.”