A former Gillingham player has joined their weekend opponents Forest Green Rovers ahead of the match at Priestfield.
Midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe has joined Forest Green Rovers on a permanent transfer from another League 2 side, Bradford City. The 27-year-old played for the Gills earlier in his career.
Forest Green – bottom of League 2 – have been busy in the January transfer market and Osadebe could make his debut for the Greens at ME7 this Saturday.
Osadebe played over 40 league games for the Gills after spending two seasons at the club where he got his first break in the Football League, having previously been at an academy linked to Tottenham Hotspur.
Since leaving the Gills, Osadebe played at Cambridge United, Newport County, Macclesfield, Walsall and most recently Bradford City. He came off the bench for Bradford in a game at Priestfield just last month.
Following his move, Osadebe said: ““I’m going to bring a lot of energy and positivity.
“Staying up and winning games is something we can definitely make happen for sure.”
He’s the second former Gillingham player to leave Bradford this week, with striker Vadaine Oliver linking up with old boss Steve Evans at League 1 Stevenage.
Forest Green could also hand Manchester United’s 19-year-old midfielder Maxi Oyedele his debut on Saturday after signing him on loan for the remainder of the season.
Three other additions have already been made before this week with Spanish midfielder Alex Rodriguez Gorrin joining as a free agent after being released by Oxford United, winger Dominic Thompson has signed from Blackpool and goalkeeper Tommy Simkin arrived on loan from Stoke City.
Rovers’ boss Troy Deeney, meanwhile, will start a four-game touchline ban on Saturday following his dismissal in an earlier league game at Swindon. The FA found him guilty of using “improper and/or abusive and/or threatening behaviour and/or language” including to an official after his dismissal.
