Gillingham will be coming up against one of their former players next season after rivals Colchester United snapped up free agent Jack Tucker.
Tucker, 25, ended last season on loan with the U’s and he was made available this summer after parent club MK Dons chose to release him.
The popular central defender came through the ranks at Gillingham, starting with the club at age seven, and went on to make over 100 league appearances for the Gills before moving to MK Dons for a tribunal-based fee in 2022.
Tucker was 22 at the time of his move away from Gillingham and wasn’t short of options. He spent three seasons with the Dons, the first of which ended in relegation from League 1. He made 63 league appearances for them.
He joined Colchester on loan in January and now moves there on a permanent basis.
“I’m happy to have cemented my future here for the next couple of years,” he said.
“It’s a great group, the staff, the players, and it feels like we’ve already got that togetherness in place.
“From when I came in, the form table was reading really well. If we can keep that core of players fit and ready, we’ll definitely be in a strong place to compete.”
The Gills face Colchester United away in the league on Tuesday, December 9 and meet again at Priestfield 20 days later. Tucker could come up against the Gills earlier than that, however, as the two teams meet in a this season’s EFL Trophy.
