Will Mannion Signs on 3 year contract
Charlton Athletic are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Will Mannion.
The 26-year-old, who made 18 appearances for fellow Sky Bet League One side Cambridge United last season, becomes Nathan Jones’ first signing as Charlton Manager.
Jones said: “He’s an experienced goalkeeper. We’re looking to improve every department over the summer in what is a big recruitment window for us. We identified Will as a real good goalkeeper who has done fantastically well at Cambridge and he did well against us in the game that he played. He’s someone that’s a real good profile in terms of size, he’s on his way up, he’s really hungry and he wants to get to and play at a higher level. That’s what attracted us to him.
“He’ll provide real good competition to those who we bring into that department and obviously he brings a real talent to it. We want to improve the department. We’re looking to bring in two goalkeepers to have a real competitive edge to them and two we believe can play at not just this level, but also can play at the level above.”
Mannion has penned a three-year contract, with the club option of an extra year, and will officially join the Addicks following the expiration of his contract at Cambridge. He added: “It feels great to be here. When the Manager called me, it definitely perked my ears up.
“Collectively, the goal is to push for promotion. That was made clear when I spoke to the gaffer, and that’s something that drew me to the club, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do this season.”
Technical Director Andy Scott commented: “The goalkeeping position is one that Nathan has identified as a key area to strengthen during this transfer window.
“Will’s tall and is an excellent shot-stopper who commands his area and joins us on the back of a very impressive last few months of the season, having played a key role coming into the Cambridge team to help them retain their League One status.
“Our focus this summer is on adding quality to the squad to help set the standards and to supplement the young talent we already have, creating a healthy competition for places. While we’re really pleased Will has joined us, our intention is to bring another goalkeeper in to compete with the other goalkeepers at the club for that position in the starting line-up."
Born in Hillingdon, Mannion joined AFC Wimbledon aged 16 and immediately impressed, starring in a historic FA Youth Cup run that saw the Dons knock out two Premier League academies in Watford and Newcastle United.
That earned him a move to then-Premier League outfit Hull City in the summer of 2016 and he subsequently made his international debut for England U19s in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.
Mannion made his senior bow in August 2017 in the Tigers’ EFL Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers.
He gained further senior experience during loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, Aldershot Town and Kidderminster Harriers before signing for Cypriot side Pafos in August 2020.
Mannion returned to England the following summer, linking up with Cambridge. In October 2021, he joined National League South outfit Havant & Waterlooville on a one-month loan deal and featured 12 times, including the Hawks’ Emirates FA Cup first-round tie at The Valley.
He has since made 41 appearances for the U’s and established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper in the latter part of last season.
https://www.charltonafc.com/news/will-mannion-becomes-nathan-jones-first-signing
Comments
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The dam breaks.6
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Ashley and Harry seeing this news...
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Welcome Will, I can't say I know much about the chap but hope he goes on to become that reliable keeper we have missed for a few years now1
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That's a proper, good bye and fuck off to Ash and Harry17
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For some reason I keep reading his name as Wilf Mannion, a sort of Alf Tupper character, plumbing in the morning then saving penalties in the afternoon.10
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And this,fenaddick said:
This bit is the real killer for themRothko said:That's a proper, good bye and fuck off to Ash and HarryTechnical Director Andy Scott commented: “The goalkeeping position is one that Nathan has identified as a key area to strengthen during this transfer window.
We’re looking to bring in two goalkeepers to have a real competitive edge to them and two we believe can play at not just this level, but also can play at the level above.”
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No idea what he’s like and will only judge him when he wears and plays in a Charlton shirt11
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“He’ll provide real good competition to those who we bring into that department" was the interesting bit for me.
Essentially "He'll be the backup".8 -
At least one more keeper to come then, almost certainly 2 to go. I suppose we might need to get rid of at least one before we get another in just to balance the books/squad a little bit.
Be interesting to see where AMB and Isted end up.
Still I don't think anyone would question that we needed to improve this department so hopefully Mannion will prove an upgrade.2 -
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I keep thinking Wilf Mannion too, but wasn't he a England international years back?Hal1x said:For some reason I keep reading his name as Wilf Mannion, a sort of Alf Tupper character, plumbing in the morning then saving penalties in the afternoon.1 -
Jones said: “He’s an experienced goalkeeper”
Not sure a 26 year old who has played just 29 EFL games and a bit of non-league is what I’d class as experienced, but we’ve obviously seen something in him other than being out of contract.We desperately needed to improve on our two keepers. Hoping this is an improvement12 -
Yeah can't be sure what to make of it until I see him play.
Hopefully is better than what we already have.
Was in goal against us when we played Cambridge towards the end of the season, the less I remember about that game the better.2 -
Best way. He will be judged way before that but we will see!shirty5 said:No idea what he’s like and will only judge him when he wears and plays in a Charlton shirt1 -
For anyone who went to Cambridge away he played and to be fair put in a decent performance that day, we should have been out of sight by half time.3
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Correct…..Born 1918 played for Boro and England.North Lower Neil said:
I keep thinking Wilf Mannion too, but wasn't he an England international years back?Hal1x said:For some reason I keep reading his name as Wilf Mannion, a sort of Alf Tupper character, plumbing in the morning then saving penalties in the afternoon.
Sadly would have been at his peak during WW2…..was a household name.2 -
It didn't need poirot to tell us all that in fairnessfenaddick said:
This bit is the real killer for themRothko said:That's a proper, good bye and fuck off to Ash and HarryTechnical Director Andy Scott commented: “The goalkeeping position is one that Nathan has identified as a key area to strengthen during this transfer window.
The comment "“He’ll provide real good competition to those who we bring into that department" suggests he won't be the only one coming in to that department so, yes, that would suggest Harry and Ash will be looking elsewhere2 -
After people wetting themselves 12 months ago over what a save at Wembley Harry Isted, then maybe some will reserve judgement this time aroundking addick said:
Best way. He will be judged way before that but we will see!shirty5 said:No idea what he’s like and will only judge him when he wears and plays in a Charlton shirt
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The less I remember about that season, the betterSELR_addicks said:Yeah can't be sure what to make of it until I see him play.
Hopefully is better than what we already have.
Was in goal against us when we played Cambridge towards the end of the season, the less I remember about that game the better.5 -
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The important question, how tall and does he pass the CL height test?0
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Welcome.
Doesnt sound like he is planned to be first choice so that suggests the clear our will be even bigger than expected!2 -
6 foot 3 apparentlyguinnessaddick said:The important question, how tall and does he pass the CL height test?0 -
3 year deal is a long one for a backup goalie with a handful of games at Cambridge under his belt.Free transfer with limited experience (contrary to Jones’ claim) strikes me as business as usual and the Tennai Watson Strategy - stick your hand in the pile and see what you pull out, with your fingers and toes crossed and your eyes shut as you do so.That said, goalkeepers are a funny one, and often come of age later. And if he is signed as backup and we go out with a bit more aggression to sign another “1st choice” goalie, this could be okay. 🤷🏼♂️1
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Welcome WillDyerConsequences said:
6 foot 3 apparentlyguinnessaddick said:The important question, how tall and does he pass the CL height test?
I always like to have a keeper who is big enough to be able to control his area and to deal with crosses etc .. my reservation is that Will is 26 years old but has limited experience at any professional level .. question will be 'is he to be the first choice or a squad member'? .. as ever we will see0 -
THIS !!!AFKABartram said:Jones said: “He’s an experienced goalkeeper”
Not sure a 26 year old who has played just 29 EFL games and a bit of non-league is what I’d class as experienced, but we’ve obviously seen something in him other than being out of contract.We desperately needed to improve on our two keepers. Hoping this is an improvement
League experience is pretty low - I can’t believe he is coming in as number one choice0 -
Think it's probably a case of "sit on the bench and learn from our no 1 & play in the cups and in time you'll be our no 1". Especially as some of the names mentioned are nearing the end of their careerpaulsturgess said:3 year deal is a long one for a backup goalie with a handful of games at Cambridge under his belt.Free transfer with limited experience (contrary to Jones’ claim) strikes me as business as usual and the Tennai Watson Strategy - stick your hand in the pile and see what you pull out, with your fingers and toes crossed and your eyes shut as you do so.That said, goalkeepers are a funny one, and often come of age later. And if he is signed as backup and we go out with a bit more aggression to sign another “1st choice” goalie, this could be okay. 🤷🏼♂️2 -
For me goalkeeper is our first priority to improve, part of the spine of the team that needs improvement. Good luck Will.
I can unclamp the legs & pack away the plastic bedsheet for a few days at least.0 -
Welcome. An area that definitely needed improving.2
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If we sign a keeper of the calibre of Adam Davies or Christian Walton I am happy with this.
Isted played for Jones at Luton and doesn't seem to have broken through either there or here. AMB can be loaned out. I still believe long term he might improve.8
