Gillingham central defender Connor Essam has signed a new deal that will keep him at Priestfield for the next three years.

The 19 year old has committed his future with The Gills until the end of the 2014/15 season after negotiating a new deal with the club.

Essam was one of a number of players that were out of contract at the end of the season and free to speak with other clubs, but has chosen to stay at Gillingham.

The Chatham born defender has spent the past ten years with The Gills, coming through the youth team ranks, before making a loan move to Bishop’s Stortford in 2010.

From there, Essam went on to spend seven games on loan with Dover Athletic before another spell with Bishop’s Stortford and the start of last season.

It was a spell on loan with Dartford last season that convinced then manager Andy Hessenthaler that he was ready for first team football and he was recalled to make his first team debut against Southend United as a substitute.

The defender went on to make seventeen further appearances for The Gills in this last season and was a regular in the side alongside captain Andy Frampton in which the side kept six clean sheets.

Shortly after the news broke, Essam tweeted: “Thanks for all the messages! Pleased to get my future sorted!”

Essam is expected to start the new season as a permanent fixture in the side and has been tipped to have a great future in the game.