Gillingham have completed the signing of Southend United striker James Walker on transfer deadline day.

The 22-year-old forward arrives at Priestfield on an initial three-month deal after agreeing to terminate his contract at their League 1 rivals.

The former Charlton youngster has also featured on loan at Hereford this season but is well known to Gills fans having played against them twice this season for Southend, in the league and FA Cup.

Gills boss Mark Stimson said: "Going back to my early days with the club, we played away at Yeovil, James was on loan from Charlton, played in that match, scored once and set up the other in a 2-1 win.

"We tried to sign him after his loan deal finished but unfortunately couldn't meet the fee that Southend were prepared to pay. Over the last 18 months he hasn't played as often as he would have liked but I am very much looking forward to working with him.

"He knows Mark Robson from his time with Charlton and he is a player that can add something to our front line. James will compete straight away for a starting position and hopefully do enough to turn that three-month contract into a long term deal.”