FORMER Colchester United striker Macauley Bonne has signed for League One side Charlton Athletic on a deal until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old, who left QPR after his contract was terminated by mutual consent earlier this month, has returned to the Addicks where he enjoyed a successful spell between 2019 and 2020.

Bonne told the Charlton website: “This club changed my life. I came from playing non-League to the Championship and they took a hit on me when no one else would. I have a lot of respect for the club.

“None of what I said in the past was ever meant to disrespect the club whatsoever. I am back here now to pick up from where I left off - scoring goals, making people and myself happy in football and that is very important.”

 

Bonne, who made nearly 100 senior appearances during his time at the U's and scored 16 goals, joined QPR from Charlton in October 2020 and spent last season on loan at Ipswich Town.

He started his career at Colchester, where he made 25 starts and 59 substitute appearances during his time at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The Ipswich-born forward scored his first professional goal on his 18th birthday when he netted for the U's against Peterborough United in October 2013.

Bonne's contract at the U's expired in June 2017 and he joined Leyton Orient, where he scored 49 goals in 102 games.

 

Bonne then left Orient in June 2019 and signed a three-year contract with Charlton, who paid in the region of £200,000 for the forward.

The Zimbabwe international left the League One side in October 2020 and signed for Rangers for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £2million.

But he is now back with Charlton, for whom he scored 11 goals for the club during his debut Championship campaign.

Charlton boss Dean Holden told the club's website: “I’ve spoken to Macauley in depth. Those couple of years he’s been away he’s not enjoyed it like he enjoyed it here. He absolutely loved playing for this football club.

“He chases everything down, he’s a goalscorer, he’s got Championship experience and he scored goals at this level last season with Ipswich. He’s really hungry to pull that shirt on and do well for this football club and that for me tells me everything I need to know.”