Charlton snap up Rommedahl

Danish international winger Dennis Rommedahl has completed a £2m (€2.9m) move to Charlton from PSV Eindhoven.

The 25-year-old has agreed a four-year contract at The Valley after featuring in THE Danes’ run to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.

Rommedahl becomes manager Alan Curbishley’s third summer signing, after the Addicks also secured the free transfer of Birmingham City midfielder Bryan Hughes earlier today.

Another Danish international, goalkeeper Stephan Andersen, signed last month from AB Copenhagen.

Rommedahl made 191 appearances for PSV, winning four Dutch league titles but was eager to test himself in the Premiership.

He said: “I wanted to try something new and I’ve always liked the way they play football in England.

“I spent eight years with PSV playing the same kind of football every week and playing against the same teams every season, so I needed some fresh air.

He revealed he was attracted by Charlton’s style of football and expects the club to challenge at the top end of the Premiership again next season.

He told the club’s official website, www.cafc.co.uk: “I watched some of Charlton’s games on television last year and saw that they wanted to play good football.

“I’ve had a look around the stadium and talked to a few people at the club, it’s a very friendly and very welcoming club.

“Charlton finished seventh in the Premiership last year – I followed their progress and they were fourth for a long period of the season and narrowly missed out on the UEFA Cup.

“The possibility for Charlton to qualify for Europe next season is very good. It’s an up-and-coming club and next year I’m sure we can reach the UEFA Cup at least.”

Rommedahl also revealed Charlton midfielder and fellow Dane Claus Jensen had a major say on him moving to The Valley.

He added: “Claus told me what a good club it was and I knew that I could trust him.

“And when I spoke with Charlton they made a good impression on me.

“I played with Claus back in Denmark at Lyngby and when he went to England I went to PSV.

“It helps if you already know some of the players when you move to a new club, it helps with life outside of football as well.”

Addicks chairman Richard Murray was delighted with the club’s latest capture, believing it to be a sign of the club’s increasing ambition.

He said: “This is a tremendous signing for Charlton Athletic.

“Dennis is a proven world-class player, and for us to beat off competition from other clubs in the Premiership and across Europe is a real coup.

“Furthermore, to sign someone of such renown can only help us as we attempt to bring in other players of similar quality to The Valley.”