Dorking Wanderers are today delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Charlie Carter from Eastleigh FC for an undisclosed fee.

Charlie began his career playing youth football at Fulham FC’s academy before moving across to Woking at the age of 16. Continuing his development at the club’s academy, and often leading the various sides as captain, Charlie spent time on loan at Chipstead and participated in pre-season friendlies for the first team ahead of signing a professional deal with The Cards prior to the 2016/17 campaign.

After featuring regularly throughout his first pro year, the following season proved tobe a breakthrough one for Charlie, an ever-present and consistent performer at Kingfield, he finished the season top scorer for the club with 12 goals.

National League side Chesterfield took notice of Charlie’s performances and acquired the midfielder’s services in the summer of 2018. Despite suffering an ankle injury through the middle part of the campaign, Charlie started and ended the season in good form, earning a move into the Football League with Stevenage after one season in Derbyshire.

Charlie’s first season at The Lamex Stadium again saw him finish the year as top scorer from midfield, continuing his fine form into the following campaign before suffering a season-ending injury in February 2021.

Following a three year spell with Stevenage, Charlie made the move to Eastleigh ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, featuring prominently and getting into double figures worth of goals for The Spitfires, including netting a brace in the New Year’s day fixture against Wanderers, as the Hampshire side finished just outside the play-off places.

Charlie, born and based in Sutton, is now looking to continue his career closer to home as the 26-year old becomes Wanderers latest signing of the season:

“I’m very excited to join Dorking Wanderers! Looking in from the outside, it’s a club with a lot of ambition and after speaking to Marc about the plans for the future, it felt like a good time to join and be part of the project.”

“I look forward to meeting the fans and I’m sure we will have some good times together!”

Manager Marc White adds the following: “Charlie Carter is a player we have really admired for a long time; particularly through coming across him competitively in the last two seasons. He is a relatively local lad and has everything we are looking for in a midfielder; 6’2, attack-minded and with an eye for goal. He joins us at a good age, and it’s another signing for us within this season where we look towards the future and continue our transition and re-build as a club.”

“We are mega excited to have Charlie on board, he is a big ticket signing for this division and we are very flattered he has chosen to join us. I would like to thank Eastleigh for their assistance in making this transfer possible.”

Charlie will wear the No16 shirt for the Wanderers and will be available for thisweekend’s fixture against Altrincham FC.