Joe Gbode has joined a non-league team just five months after a big move away from Gillingham.
The young forward was still establishing himself in the Gills team when he was signed by Luton Town at the end of the summer transfer window.
League 1 Luton paid in the region of £300,000 for Gbode, 20, taking a punt on a player who had shown plenty of promise at Gillingham but who still had much developing to do.
Gbode was just 16 when he made his Gills debut and highlights included a winning goal against Wimbledon.
He was a starter for the Gills at the beginning of this season and scored a late equaliser at Tranmere.
The powerful forward was an unused sub the following game and not in the squad the match after, before making his final appearance off the bench at Oldham.
Luton were managed by Matt Bloomfield at the time of his move, but he was sacked a month later, and Gbode’s opportunities in the team dried up.
Gbode made five league appearances as a substitute for Luton during his early weeks at the club but with Bloomfield sacked, he was then restricted to EFL Trophy matches. He’s yet to find the net for Luton.
He now has a chance to get some playing time after moving to National League side Woking, joining them on loan for the rest of the season.
Woking’s director of football Jody Brown said: “The data measured him high in many areas at a level above the National League, so we’re confident in his readiness to impact games for us.”
Gbode could have returned to the Gills on loan, which would have been his only option in the EFL, because he’d already played for both Gillingham and Luton this season.
The Gills are, obviously, looking elsewhere for attacking options, and a move to Woking now allows Gbode to rebuild his confidence at a lower level.
