AMARI’I Bell said he was looking forward to a “fresh start” after signing a two-year deal with Charlton Athletic following his release by Luton Town this summer.
Left-sided defender Bell, 31, links up again with Addicks boss Nathan Jones, who signed him at Luton.
The versatile Bell has 28 caps for Jamaica and has played 216 times in England’s top two tiers, including 21 games in the Premier League in 2023-24.
Bell is Charlton’s fourth signing of the summer after Sonny Carey, Thomas Kaminski and Isaac Olaofe.
“It’s a fresh start for me and one that I’m looking forward to as Charlton are on the way back up,” Bell said. “It’s another chance to work with Nathan who is a great manager that knows how to get the best out of his players, and he certainly does for me. It’s going to be a great time.”
Jones added: “Amari’i’s someone I know well. I signed him at Luton and he did fantastically well for me. He knows how I want to play, he has Championship and Premier League experience, and he’s a wonderful athlete with pace and power. He will add to the group and we’re really delighted because left-sided centre-halves are very difficult to come by.”
Born in Burton-upon-Trent, Bell joined Birmingham City’s academy in 2011, before spells at Nuneaton Town – where he made his senior debut – Kidderminster Harriers, Mansfield Town, Swindon Town, Gillingham and Fleetwood Town.
He made 137 appearances for the Cod Army before a move to Blackburn Rovers. The defender was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year in 2017-18.
Bell joined Jones’ Luton in 2021 and helped the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League in 2022-23. He played 157 games for Luton.
Bell was most recently in action in the CONCACAF Cup in the United States, scoring in Jamaica’s 4-1 defeat to Panama.
