We take a look at the ups and downs from Dion Charles' Wanderers career as the striker completes a move to Huddersfield Town.

Perfect introduction

Charles celebrates with Marlon Fossey (Image: CameraSport - Mick Walker) Charles picked the perfect time to score his first goal for the Whites, finding the top corner with a superb strike in the 89th minute at Shrewsbury to secure a 1-0 win on the road.

It had looked like Bolton would have to settle for a point until the moment of magic, which sent the away end into raptures at Croud Meadow.

Charles would go on to score five goals in his next seven games, quickly becoming a fan favourite at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Fleetwood freak goal

One of the striker’s most memorable goals in the famous Bolton shirt turned out to be one that he didn’t actually mean.

Charles pounced on Callum Camps’ looks touch and made a thumping challenge against Fleetwood on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign.

Remarkably, the ball looped over goalkeeper Alex Cairns and bounced into the empty net from near the halfway line as Wanderers ended the season on a high note.

Composure in the Cup

Charles slots past Emi Martinez (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth) There was excitement when the Whites were drawn against Premier League Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, and Charles provided a dream start midway through the first half.

The Northern Irish international slotted past Emi Martinez, who had been a World Cup winner with Argentina that summer, after a clever turn by Kieran Lee.

Bolton went on to lose 4-1 but it was a special moment for Charles, up against the likes of Tyrone Mings and Callum Chambers in the Villa backline.

Mistaken identity

Charles and Kachunga protest to the referee (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth) Surely the most bizarre moment of the forward’s career at Wanderers came in a narrow victory against Forest Green.

Charles scored an early opener but was then shown a straight red card for lashing out at a defender off the ball – although it turned out it was actually Elias Kachunga who had committed the offence.

The suspension was later overturned, of course, and Kachunga served the three-match ban instead.

Hat trick hero

Charles elated at London Road (Image: CameraSport - Mick Walker) Charles’ first hat trick in Bolton colours came a month later during an emphatic 5-0 victory at Peterborough.

His goals came in a ruthless nine-minute spell either side of half time, with a couple coming from the penalty spot.

Ricardo Santos also bagged a brace that day as Wanderers fans enjoyed an away day to remember at London Road.

Wembley heroics

Charles celebrates with Aaron Morley at Wembley (Image: CameraSport - Andrew Kearns) Charles got on the scoresheet in the 4-0 win against Plymouth at Wembley as Bolton won the Vertu Trophy.

Nearly 80,000 supporters were in attendance at the famous venue to see the striker slot home from Kyle Dempsey’s cut back.

Dempsey, Kachunga and Gethin Jones were also on target that day as the Pilgrims, who were favourites going into the game, were brushed aside in the capital.

Milestone man

Charles celebrates hitting 20 goals for the season (Image: CameraSport - Andrew Kearns) Charles scored the decisive goal as Wanderers secured a hard-fought victory at Oxford in April 2023.

He became the club’s first player to reach 20 goals in a single season since Michael Ricketts had achieved that feat in 2000/01.

Charles’ goals helped the Whites finish fifth in League One that season, although they fell short against Barnsley in the play-offs.

Oakwell redemption

Charles bagged a brace at Oakwell in the play-offs (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd) A year later, Bolton put things right against the Tykes with a 5-4 aggregate win over the semi-final legs.

Charles bagged a brace in the away leg as Wanderers seized control of the tie with a complete performance in South Yorkshire.

It saw the tenacious striker reach 20 goals for the second season running, although things would ultimately end up in heartbreak against Oxford at Wembley.

First-half hat trick

Charles with his match ball (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker) Three of Charles’ eight goals this season came during the first half of the 5-2 victory against Reading in September.

The Northern Irish international scored twice from the penalty spot and also fired home a clinical strike from Josh Dacres-Cogley’s pass.

“The missus will be fuming now,” he joked about his collection of match balls starting to stack up.

Dropping down the pecking order 

Charles warming up with George Johnston (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker) Charles hadn’t started as many games as he would have hoped this season and Ian Evatt admitted that the forward’s momentum had been halted by his knee injury over the summer.

He played through the pain at the back end of last term in an attempt to help Wanderers reach the Championship before pulling out of international duty.

Evatt had predicted that Charles would remain at the club this month and challenged the forward to get back to his best form consistently, but things changed when Huddersfield’s offer was deemed acceptable.