CHARLTON carried on spending when they swooped for Arsenal's England Under-21 international striker Francis Jeffers on Tuesday night.

Jeffers, 23, followed former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy into The Valley after Charlton agreed a £2.6 million fee with Arsenal for the player who signed a two-year contract. It took the club's summer spending to over £8 million _ with the prospect of another signing to come.

Having paid Liverpool £2.5 million for Murphy earlier in the day, manager Alan Curbishley sharpened his attack by bringing in Jeffers.

"He needed a change and he's exactly the sort of player I like to sign because I feel he's angry and hungry after the last couple of years," said Curbishley. "I'm hoping we can put his career back on track."

While Curbishley welcomed his two new signings to The Valley, Charlton said farewell to Paulo Di Canio who has left the club to rejoin Lazio where he started his career in the 1980s. Charlton have agreed to rescind the new one-year contract he agreed just last month.

Di Canio, 36, said: “When I signed my contract with Charlton in the summer, it was my intention to do everything I could to help the club improve upon its seventh place in the Premier League last season. However, in recent weeks it has become clear to me how much my family wish to stay in Rome.

“This, coupled with the fact that Lazio are prepared to offer me a contract, has convinced me that the time is right for me to return to Rome.

“This is possibly the most difficult career decision I have ever had to make and I can only apologise to Alan Curbishley and the supporters of Charlton, for whom I have the greatest affection.

“I have often said I wished I joined Charlton earlier in my career, and whatever has happened I will always believe this to be so.”

Di Canio, who moves on a free transfer to the club he supported as a boy, told the Lazio website: “To wear the blue-and-white shirt again is really special. I have always been a true Lazio fan, even when my career took me a long way from Rome.”