Charlton Athletic are pleased to confirm the signing of Lewis Ward.
The 26-year-old joins on a deal until the end of the season, with a club option of an additional year, to add depth to the Addicks’ goalkeeping department.
Ward, who made eight appearances for Swindon Town during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, becomes the club’s seventh signing of the January transfer window. The 6ft 5in stopper said: “I’m really excited to be here. My conversations with Michael Appleton and Stephen Henderson have been really positive - they want me to come in, compete and drive the goalkeeping department on.”
Head Coach Michael Appleton commented: "We've needed a third goalkeeper since Sam Walker left the club and Lewis will bring a lot of experience. It's an opportunity for Ash [Maynard-Brewer] and Harry [Isted] to be pushed further and the competition for places will rise."
Technical Director Andy Scott added: “Lewis comes in and brings us good goalkeeping cover. He's a good goalkeeper with experience, who has played games recently and will provide good competition for Ashley and Harry.”
A former England U16 international, Ward began his career at Reading and progressed through the academy ranks before gaining experience on loan at Whitehawk, Sutton United, Fylkir, Margate, Hungerford Town, Aldershot Town, Northampton Town and Forest Green Rovers.
In June 2019, he completed a permanent move to Exeter City, where he would go on to make 33 appearances before spending the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Portsmouth.
Ward joined Swindon in the summer of 2021 and enjoyed a memorable league debut, keeping a clean sheet and saving a penalty.
He featured another 16 times for the Robins - including an FA Cup tie with Manchester City in which he saved Gabriel Jesus’ spot-kick - before switching to Sutton United ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The stopper returned to Swindon in August 2023 in a player-coach capacity, working as the Robins’ Youth Development Phase Lead Coach.