Tom Harvey reports
Charlton have signed Leeds United defender Federico Bessone on loan for the rest of the season.
The deal, which includes an option for Bessone to join permanently at the end of the season, was completed on Monday's transfer-deadline day. He has initially joined until May 31st and has been handed squad number 21.
Predominantly a left-back, Argentinian Bessone has made eight appearances for the Whites this season, the last coming in a 5-2 defeat at Barnsley on September 14th.
The 27-year-old was Simon Grayson's fourth signing of summer 2010, arriving from Swansea City on a three-year deal after he had made 22 appearances for the Swans during the 2009/10 campaign.
Bessone lists Barcelona among his former employers, having started his career in the Spanish giants' B team, where he played alongside a certain Lionel Messi.
After two years at Barca, he moved to Espanyol B and Gimnastic before being snapped up by Roberto Martinez at Swansea.
In two seasons in South Wales, Bessone, who holds an Italian passport, made 40 appearances.
Although the window for permanent transfers closes at 11pm on Monday, Charlton can still carry out emergency and youth loans from next Tuesday, February 8th.
Emergency loans are for a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 93, while the only maximum for youth loans - under which terms Matt Fry and Nathan Eccleston are currently at The Valley - is that the stint must not extend beyond the player's 21st birthday.
The loan stint of left-back Fry from West Ham United is due to end following Saturday's match at Yeovil Town, but could be extended.
