Pouso pens loan deal

Addicks head coach Iain Dowie has completed his second signing in as many days - and ninth since arriving at the club - by capturing Uruguay international midfielder Omar Pouso.

Omar Pouso will wear the number 13 shirt for the Addicks

Pouso, who scored a sensational 35-yard volley against England in a friendly last March, has signed on a season-long loan from Uruguayan side Penarol with a view to a permanent move.

Dowie said: "I'm delighted to have secured Omar.

"He's a very, very combative player, he gets goals and his delivery from set pieces is good.

"I've seen him play a couple of times, including the England game where he scored the wonder goal but I've seen him play more times than that.

"He's got good ability, he's a good age, he brings athleticism to the team and creativity, but he also has plenty of aggression and competes very hard, which is very important for that central midfield area."

Under the terms of the deal, Charlton will pay Penarol €500,000 (£337,000) now, and retain the option to purchase the 26-year-old for up to €2,250,000 (£1.515m) after 12 months.

Pouso hit the headlines five months ago when England stopper Paul Robinson was helpless to prevent his long-range thunderbolt at Old Trafford.

That was the same game in which Addicks striker Darren Bent made his international debut, while Charlton skipper Luke Young was an unused England substitute.

Pouso, who joined Penarol from Danubio in 2005 and was quickly made captain of the Montevideo club, was voted the second best midfielder in Uruguay by the country's sports journalists last season.

A key member of his country's side, he netted in a penalty shootout defeat to Brazil in the semi-finals of the Copa America in July 2004 as Uruguay claimed third place in the tournament in Peru.

Pouso has already been granted a two-year work permit, and joins fellow countryman Gonzalo Sorondo at The Valley.

"After what happened with Cristian Bolanos with regards to his work permit, it was always a concern but Omar is a good addition to the squad," added Dowie.

The signing, completed just hours before the August transfer window deadline, follows the arrival of Senegal international defender Souleymane Diawara from French club Sochaux on Wednesday.

Dowie had already recruited Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Simon Walton, Andy Reid, Djimi Traore, Amady Faye, Cory Gibbs and Scott Carson, who has joined on a season-long loan from Liverpool.