Dover have signed defender Bondz N’Gala until the end of the season.

The free agent was set to join Gillingham last week but new FIFA rulings meant he would have been ineligible to play.

N’Gala has already played for Barnet in League 2 and Eastleigh in the National League, Premier Division.

FIFA rules, introduced this season, mean he would have been unable to play for the Gills, after already representing two “professional” clubs.

Yet, confusingly, rules do allow him to sign for another National League, Premier side and Dover have clinched his signature for the rest of the season.

N'Gala agreed to rip up his contract with the Gills, despite being entitled to payment for the rest of the season, and he has been quick to find another club. He has been invited back to Gillingham for pre-season training.

A Dover statement said: "Following discussions between Dover Athletic, the FA and the EFL it was confirmed by the FA’s registrations department that we could go ahead and sign the player."

Promotion-chasing Dover announced that midfielder Nicky Deverdics had returned to Crabble yesterday.