Gillingham adds Wakeling, Nadesan loaned to Sutton United

Gillingham have strengthened their forward line by securing Jacob Wakeling on a season-long loan from Peterborough United.

The 22-year-old striker trained with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday and is expected to feature in the club’s final pre-season friendly against Woking on Saturday. The upcoming league campaign starts on August 10.

Wakeling began his football journey at West Bromwich Albion’s youth academy but was released in 2020.

He then moved to non-league side Alvechurch before joining Leicester City in November of the same year. He made a debut for Leicester in January 2021, scoring in an EFL Trophy match against Tranmere.

In the 2021/22 season, after scoring again in the EFL Trophy for Leicester, Wakeling was loaned to Barrow, where he made four appearances. He then transferred to Swindon Town in the summer of 2022, scoring eight goals in 46 appearances in his first full season.

His performance caught the attention of Peterborough United, who signed him on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee last September.

Gillingham’s Ashley Nadesan has joined Sutton United on a season-long loan. The 29-year-old forward, who joined Gills in July 2023, has scored three goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.

Nadesan’s career started at non-league Horley Town before he signed with Fleetwood Town in 2016, scoring once in 24 appearances. He also had two loan spells at Carlisle United, where he netted 13 times in 43 games. In July 2019, Nadesan signed a three-year contract with Crawley Town, scoring 31 goals in 161 games.

Sutton United, recently relegated from League 2, will kick off their National League campaign away to Tamworth on August 10.

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