Blackpool Leading Race to Re-Sign Former Star

Blackpool Close to Agreeing Deal for Return of Former Star

Charlton Athletic winger is closing in on a sudden return to Blackpool in the final stages of this transfer window, having only departed the club for The Addicks earlier this summer for a seven-figure fee.

Seen a few reports that Blackpool are close to signing Rob Apter on loan. Feel for Apter, he's been harshly treated & if I was him I'd be pushing for a permanent deal. The longer Jones is here the less we will see Rob Apter play for us, which is a shame. #cafc

— KD 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 (@KDSouthLDN) January 26, 2026

The 22-year-old winger made his senior professional breakthrough at Bloomfield Road, making 47 league appearances and scoring eight goals last season in his breakout year with the club, following loans to the likes of Bamber Bridge, Chester, Scunthorpe and Tranmere Rovers..

He joined Charlton for a £2m sum back in the summer, but has not made a single appearance since the turn of the new year with Nathan Jones preferring other options in his stead. As such, the former Luton and Southampton manager is willing to let Apter leave the club on loan until the end of the season, with Blackpool set to contend with the likes of Bolton and Wigan to make his return happen.

Apter-Leave - Rob Set for Loan After Lackluster Start

Rob Apter began his life at the Valley in the best possible way - he scored his first goal for the club within his opening handful of games, and won Charlton's player of the month award at the very first time of asking with 39% of the vote from fans.

However, things haven't panned completely out that way for Apter since, with the Liverpool-born winger having made just eight Championship starts under Jones this season with Charlton sitting in 19th, three points above the drop zone.

🚨💣𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Blackpool are pushing to secure the loan signing of Academy product Rob Apter😱

The Deck are reporting Charlton are prepared to let Rob Apter leave on loan this month✍️

Wow this is huge news. Thoughts Seasiders! ⬇️#utmp | #blackpoolfc | #efl | #cafc pic.twitter.com/k28Xn93pv4

— Anything Blackpool (@AnythingBFC) January 26, 2026

Early showings aside, Apter has struggled to make a huge impact at Charlton so far and a loan back into League One may be his next step. Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic are both tempted by a move, but former club Blackpool is the side most interested in bringing Apter back into the fold.

Then-manager Steve Bruce admitted he did not want to sell Apter at the time, but was granting the Scotland U21's wishes to depart the club, but the now-manager Ian Evatt is keen on bringing him back to Bloomfield Road, where he played a starring role last season.

The Seasider's are currently 17th in the League One table, three points above safety. They will be in action tonight, as they head away from home to face off with Stockport County at 7:45PM.