Winger Joan Luque has explained why he turned down higher-division interest in favour of a move to Folkestone.

The Spaniard is arguably the pick of a cluster of Invicta summer signings as they target Isthmian Premier promotion in the new season.

He joins from National League South side Worthing having previously had a huge impact at Maidstone, where he became a fans’ favourite. He starred when the Stones won the 2021/22 National League South title with 22 goals.

Luque, who had a loan stint at AFC Totton last campaign, had chances to stay at Step 2 but opted to link up with Andy Drury’s team.

“Andrew contacted me,” explained Luque, who is now based in Eastbourne. “I was speaking to other clubs, as well, but it was the one that made the most sense for me.

“I had offers from National League South [clubs] but they were far away. With one of them, I have principles - I won’t say the team - but I would never go there. It was just the move that made the most sense.

“They want to push for promotion and, obviously, I want to achieve promotions in my career.

“That’s what football is about, trying to create good memories, getting promotions and winning leagues. Hopefully, we can do that.

“There’s a lot of work to do before we get to that day but, if I’m not wrong, we have got a good team.

“We’re signing good players and it’s all about how we’re going to glue-up together.”

Luque left the Stones last summer after he missed the whole of the 2022/23 National League season following knee surgery.

Now, though, he’s fighting fit and set to play alongside ex-Maidstone captain Gavin Hoyte once again, with Invicta unveiling the signing of 34-year-old Hoyte on Monday.

“I played with pain within the last season,” Luque revealed. “But that’s now gone, and done and dusted.

“Now, hopefully, it’s more about playing with no pain. I have no pain at the moment and I haven’t had any pain for a while.

“With injuries like mine, you never know, but I’m working, doing a lot of rehab and running. Last year, when I was doing the off-season work, I had a lot of pain in my patella tendon.

“This season, I’m doing a lot of work, more than last season - because last season, I couldn’t really do much - and I have zero pain. I’ve felt like that since February.

“Hopefully, all of the pain has disappeared forever! It’s not a nice feeling.”

Luque’s new manager has plenty of Football League playing experience.

While the Spaniard hadn’t heard too much about his new boss’ career previously, he thinks Folkestone’s current crop can benefit from playing for someone who has played to such a high level.

He explained: “I hadn’t heard of him before, really.

“I’m Spanish, so I don’t know about people who have played at a good level before [I was] here [in England]. I still don’t have much knowledge of English football.

“But I know he has played at good levels.

“It’s good to have someone that knows, not only the manager’s part, but the part of a player, as well, having been one himself.

“That’s something that can help with, for example, [managing] my injury.

“There could also be situations in the game where you could ask the manager something and he could probably be more willing to listen to the players, because he’s been a player and he knows that, sometimes, it’s good to listen to your players.

“They can give you some good information and help, as well. Maybe, the player knows a solution. It’s going to be good.

“I’m looking forward to playing for him.”

Hoyte aside, Luque doesn’t know many of his new team-mates but is familiar with midfielder Sam Blackman and defender Marvel Ekpiteta - someone he has had his own battles against.

He said: “I know Blackman and then I played against Ekpiteta.

“I played against him when he was at Billericay. It’s good to play with people that I know were tough to play against.

“For example, I remember Ekpiteta is very strong, he’s very good in the air and is someone that has always been a pain in the backside when I have played against him!

“I’m looking forward to having him in my team and not having to go past him.”

Luque can only recall playing at Cheriton Road once before. He netted on that occasion - and has joked with chairman Josh Healey he will try to keep that scoring record going.

He said: “I have played there but I think I’ve only played there once - and I scored. That’s good.

“Like I was saying to the chairman, hopefully, I can keep that record going!

“I’m looking forward to meeting the fans.

“Hopefully, I can get them off their seats, which is what I like doing when I play, and they will like my style of play."

Former Leyton Orient midfielder Matt Young has also agreed to join Invicta this week from Haringey after he scored 15 times for them from 44 appearances last season.