Gillingham have announced the signing of Max Ehmer as he returns to the club on a permanent deal.

The 29-year-old defender, who spent six years as a player at MEMS Priestfield Stadium, initially on loan in 2014, returns to Kent after one season away. 

The former Queens Park Rangers man, who is reunited with manager Steve Evans has, to date, made 250 appearances for the Gills and scored 15 goals. 

At the end of the 2019-20 season the defender decided to take up an option elsewhere, agreeing a deal with fellow League 1 side Bristol Rovers, but now returns home to Priestfield ahead of the 2021/22 campaign with his deal at the Memorial Stadium having been terminated.  

On claiming Max’s signature, the manager said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have Max Ehmer back at the Football Club. I made it clear to Max when he was leaving to join Bristol Rovers that I thought it was the wrong move at the wrong time. 

“I can understand because of the short career of footballers that you must take big salary increases if they are offered to you, so I understood that side of it, but I thought there was so much unfinished business for him here working with myself and Paul Raynor. 

“Max was outstanding for us in our time; there is no doubt that he improved hugely in a short space of time and that improvement would have continued. 

“My thoughts are not to speak about Max’s time at Bristol Rovers and his disagreements with Joey Barton, because one thing I have is respect for both men. Everyone can read a story and believe one side of it, but there is always two sides. 

“Max comes back into the Football Club; Kyle Dempsey will remain as skipper but I’m sure Max, with his experience and knowledge of everything around Priestfield, will be an outstanding help to young Kyle, alongside Stuart, who played a massive role last season too. 

“There is no secret that Jack Tucker’s outstanding performances alongside Max were a credit, but I hope to add another centre-back in the next number of days and create some competition. 

“Max Ehmer is simply a top-class central defender in League 1. Simple.”

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.