Addicks lifted by new star

Charlton chairman Richard Murray believes the capture of Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl is a sign of the club's increasing ambition.

Rommedahl, 25, joined the Addicks yesterday from PSV Eindhoven in a deal worth £2million, agreeing a four-year contract at The Valley.

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."

Rommedahl, who helped Denmark reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, becomes manager Alan Curbishley's third summer signing. The Addicks snapped up another Danish international, goalkeeper Stephan Andersen from AB Copenhagen, last month and secured the free transfer of Birmingham City midfielder Bryan Hughes yesterday.

Rommedahl won four Dutch league titles with PSV but was eager to test himself in the Premiership.

He said: "I wanted to try something new and I have 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 claimed 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.