Scott Wagstaff has today joined Gillingham Football Club after signing a two-year contract at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.

The Maidstone-born midfielder, 26, spent the last three seasons at Bristol City, making 90 appearances for the Robins. Nearly a third of those came in City’s League One-winning 2014/15 campaign; Wagstaff also scored their final goal in a 3-1 victory against the Gills at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium in December 2014.

“I’m delighted to sign for Gillingham,” he said. “I think one of my first matches I went to was watching the Gills against Chelsea as a kid, and I’ve got a lot of friends and family this way which adds to my excitement about joining.

“As soon as I met the chairman and the manager it was a done deal in my mind. I think we’ve got a great group of lads here, too – the key thing in getting out of this division is having a good team spirit.”

Educated in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Wagstaff joined Charlton Athletic’s Academy aged eight, and went on to captain their Under-18 squad. He made his professional debut for the south London club in April 2008, and went on to make 70 league starts for the Addicks.

Wagstaff had loan spells at AFC Bournemouth, Northwich Victoria and Leyton Orient during his time at The Valley, before being released at the end of the 2012/13 season.

He becomes the club’s fifth summer signing to date, after Irishman Mark Byrne, Billy Knott, Lee Martin and season-loanee Deji Oshilaja.

“We had to be patient with this deal but I think we’ve got our reward,” said Gills manager Justin Edinburgh. “He’s an outstanding Championship player; he knows this league and what it takes to get promotion.

“There were a lot of clubs interested in Scott, many of whom would class themselves as bigger than us, but I think he has seen the progression we’ve made in the last 18 months.

“In bringing Scott to Gillingham, it’s fair to say the chairman has really showed his commitment to me, the club and our supporters.”