Charlton Athletic reaped the rewards of Oldham transfer - He'd make history with Brighton & Hove Albion | OneFootball

The Addicks raided the Latics for a key midfielder in the summer of 2011.

Charlton Athletic made a number of good signings during the summer transfer window in 2011, which resulted in the club being crowned League One champions in 2012.

Chris Powell was very busy as he prepared for his first full season in charge at The Valley, as he completely overhauled his squad with several important additions, including Yann Kermorgant, Ben Hamer, Rhoys Wiggins and Michael Morrison.

Oldham Athletic midfielder Dale Stephens was another key signing that summer, with his range of passing and creative output proving to be vital during the Addicks' title charge.

Stephens, who had just turned 22 years old at the time of his arrival in SE7, struck up a partnership with Danny Hollands in the middle of the pitch for Charlton over the course of the 2011/12 campaign, while he also provided assists for captain Johnnie Jackson and top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips that season.

However, his most memorable moments had to be some stunning long-range goals. He unleashed a thunderous strike in front of the Covered End to earn a point in injury time against Bury in January 2012, while another example of his ability to score from distance came when he hit an outstanding volley during a victory over Doncaster Rovers in the Championship in November 2013.

Stephens impressed for Charlton

Stephens scored four goals and provided five assists in 30 League One appearances as Charlton won the title during the 2011/12 season, and he continued to impress during the two seasons he spent in the Championship with the Addicks.

He contributed to Charlton finishing ninth in the second tier at the end of their first season back at that level in 2013, which is still the club's highest league finish since being relegated from the Premier League in 2007, with goal contributions in a thrilling 5-4 win at home against Cardiff City and a 4-3 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road standing out.

The midfielder's second last appearance for Charlton came in an FA Cup fourth-round victory away at Huddersfield Town in January 2014, but he would not be a part of the side that reached the quarter-finals of the competition, as he and Yann Kermorgant were sold later that month following Roland Duchatelet's takeover of the club.

The Addicks went on to be relegated from the Championship in 2016, while Stephens went from strength to strength at his new club, Brighton & Hove Albion.

Stephens became a Premier League player at Brighton

While Charlton failed to avoid relegation to League One during the 2015/16 season, Stephens scored seven goals and assisted four as Brighton finished third in the Championship. One of those assists came against his former club at the AMEX Stadium, as Charlton lost 3-2 despite having taken a two-goal lead, after Ademola Lookman had scored his first goal for the Addicks early in the game.

The Seagulls fell short in the play-offs that year, but they bounced back and achieved automatic promotion the following season, with Stephens being a regular feature in the side that finished one point behind champions Newcastle United.

Stephens made history as Brighton finally reached the top flight after a 34-year absence and became a Premier League club for the first time. He made more than 100 appearances at the highest level for Brighton and Burnley, which always seemed like a possibility during his time at Charlton.