Mesik living his 'dream' playing at Charlton

Ivan Mesik has previously played for clubs in Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands [Getty Images] Charlton Athletic's new signing Ivan Mesik has said it has been his dream to play football in England after arriving on a long-term contract from Dutch club Heracles Almelo. The 25-year-old defender will play in his sixth different country after leaving his homeland of Slovakia to move to Denmark in 2020, racking up over 200 professional appearances across six clubs. Mesik was the Addicks' first signing of the summer window, signing a four-year contract, and operates primarily at left-back but can also play in central defence. Mesik, who has won three caps for Slovakia, said: "It's a dream to go to England, everybody who thinks about football knows it's elite football in England. "That's what I was looking for, where I can compete with the best players in the world", he told BBC Radio London. An attribute that manager Nathan Jones values above anything else is combativeness, a trait that Mesik said is core to his style of play since competing against in the Dutch top flight. "I have an aggressive style of football," he added. "I'm searching for duels. I'm not worried about going in fully. I'm the type of footballer who wants to be on the ball." Charlton finished 19th in their first season back in the Championship since 2019-20. And Mesik is confident he can help the club push on during the forthcoming campaign and beyond. "I've been impressed with the manager, with the plan, with the project," he said. "That's also why I signed a long-term contract. I see the vision to level up myself more as a player. "They've [Charlton players] really welcomed me, they're friendly, trying to help me. From the first moment I knew I was at a good place." Latest Charlton Athletic news, analysis and fan views