Defender Andy Smith has returned to Gillingham on a permanent basis after an impressive loan spell last season.
The 23-year-old right-sided centre-back joins the Gills from Championship side Hull City to further strengthen the defensive department. He joins for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
Smith played 12 games for the Gills after joining on loan last season and started the first two matches that Gareth Ainsworth managed.
He picked up an injury that meant he was unavailable for selection over the final few weeks of the season but he’d done enough to convince Ainsworth to have him back.
Of those 12 games Smith played – all starts – he helped the Gills to five clean sheets.
He said: “Ever since I knew there was a chance I could back permanently, I spoke to my agent and said I wanted to get it done straight away.
“I really enjoyed my time here last season and I am looking forward to kicking on now.”
Prior to his time at Priestfield, he’d played a handful of games for Hull, with just one league appearance off the bench, gaining his match experience while out on loan.
He had a season and a half on loan at Grimsby Town and spells with both Salford and Cheltenham before moving south to join the Gills, where he found himself with familiar faces in former Hull City duo Robbie McKenzie and Max Clark.
Smith will compete for the central defensive role along with Conor Masterson – who recently signed a new one-year deal – Shad Ogie and Sam Gale.
