NICKY Ajose has become the second Swindon Town striker to depart the County Ground in less than a week after Charlton Athletic confirmed his signing this afternoon.

The 24-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Addicks, who were relegated to League One last season, for an undisclosed fee, following Michael Smith out of the door.

Reports emerged a fortnight ago that Town had agreed a fee in the region of £800,000 with the south east London club, with chairman Lee Power having said he had already turned down a bid of £500,000 from an unnamed Championship side for the player earlier this month.

A deal was agreed on June 16, however the paper work was unable to be completed until this week due to Ajose's agent being out of the country until last Saturday.

Reports in London suggest that the fee for Ajose was less than the £800,000 originally stated, however, Swindon were thought to be lured in by a heavy up-front payment.

“I’m really glad to be here and cannot wait to get started," Ajose told the Charlton website.

"From a personal point of view, it was really nice to get a good tally of goals last year and I feel like if I can do something similar next year then it could end in promotion.

"My aspirations for next season were to be playing in the Championship but when a team like Charlton come calling then I felt it was an opportunity that I could not turn down.

"I’m delighted to have it all signed so early and am really looking forward to getting started.”

Ajose joined Town last September, having enjoyed a loan spell at the club back in 2013, after Leeds United agreed to terminate the forward’s contract.

It didn’t take long for Ajose to get back on the goal trail with Swindon as he broke his duck on debut in a 3-1 win away to Crewe Alexandra, a club he had been on loan at during the previous campaign.

The former Manchester United youth product went on to score 25 goals in all competitions for Town, including five braces and a hat-trick in Swindon’s 3-2 win over Blackpool at the County Ground.

That tally saw him named in the League One team of the year and claim the Swindon Advertiser Player of the Year trophy, voted for by readers, but missed out on the League One Player of the Year award, with Gillingham’s Bradley Dack scooping that prize.

Ajose is the third forward to leave so far this summer, with Miles Storey set to join Aberdeen when his current deal with Town comes to an end on Thursday, June 30.

Swindon, who returned to training today at Royal Wotton Bassett Town’s Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground, are left with Jonathan Obika and Jermaine Hylton as their only recognised strikers, with the former also linked with a move away from the club, with only a year left on his contract having not agreed to a contract extension at the end of last term.