Charlton Desperate to Bring James Bree Back on Free Transfer This Summer

Charlton Athletic are determined to try and bring James Bree back to the club this summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The right-back impressed at The Valley during a loan stint earlier this season, before being recalled by Southampton in January.

Bree returned to form under Addicks' boss Nathan Jones after being frozen out by Will Still on the south coast.

But since being recalled to St Mary's, Bree has been a mainstay in the first XI under new boss Tonda Eckert.

The club, vying to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, are firmly in the play-off mix after a fine turnaround and are currently 13 games unbeaten in all competitions, with a chance of getting to Wembley in the FA Cup. 

Helped by his early-season form at Charlton, Bree has been a revelation under Eckert since returning to the club and has netted three goals during their unbeaten run.

Bree is out of contract at the end of the season and it is understood there are plenty of Championship suitors for the 28-year-old.

Charlton are hopeful his time at the club earlier this term puts them at the front of the queue.

But there is a chance he extends his stay at the Saints, who are understood to be considering offering him a new deal at the end of the campaign. 

Charlton had attempted to secure a permanent deal for Bree while he was still on loan late last year, but talks with Southampton stalled as the clubs couldn’t agree on a transfer fee.

Entering Prime Years

Bree came through the ranks at Barnsley’s academy and was one in a long line of top-class defenders from the Oakwell conveyor belt, following in the footsteps of the likes of John Stones and Mason Holgate. 

He moved to Aston Villa for what the Tykes called a “substantial fee” in 2017. 

Since then he played in the Championship for Luton Town and helped Southampton win promotion via the play-offs in the 2023/24 campaign, making ten top-flight appearances last term as they were relegated.