More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Gillingham have made their first signing of the January transfer window.
Gills boss Steve Evans has moved for Southampton midfielder Tyreke Johnson, who becomes the second loan player from the Premier League club at Priestfield.
Saints left-sided player Tom O'Connor is already at Gills and Johnson's arrival will provide greater quality in the midfield areas - with Evans stating that they want to make Johnson's switch a permanent one.
"We are delighted to have signed Ty on loan," said Evans. "He is an exciting prospect and I have no doubt he will fit in well with our current group.
"He is very quick, direct, hungry, and will cause defences a lot of problems in our division.
"Our intention is to make this deal permanent which will give us more flexibility in the loan market over the next few weeks."
Johnson has been with Southampton since a schoolboy and he made his first team debut as a second half substitute in a 3-2 victory over Arsenal in December 2018.
He has featured regularly for the club’s under-23s team and started in the 2-1 win over MK Dons in the EFL Trophy in November.
In 2020 he spent a successful time in the USA with Hartford Athletic, scoring twice in 15 league outings.
Johnson, who will wear squad number 17, turned down other League 1 sides to join the Gills and could make his debut this weekend.
Earlier this week, Championship side Coventry recalled midfielder Josh Eccles from his loan spell at Priestfield.
Gillingham host League 1's bottom side, Burton, at Priestfield behind closed doors on Saturday, knowing victory could move to within three points of the play-off places.
