Gillingham boss Steve Evans captures Tyreke Johnson on loan from Southampton

GILLINGHAM boss Steve Evans has made his first addition in the January transfer window with the capture of Southampton youngster Tyreke Johnson on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old midfielder becomes the second Saints loanee at  Priestfield Stadium with Tom O’Connor also on a short-term deal from the Premier League club, and Johnson will be available for selection ahead of Saturday’s home game against Burton Albion (2pm).

Johnson has been with the Saints 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 U23 team and started in the 2-1 win over MK Dons in the Papa John’s Trophy in November.

In 2020 he spent a successful time in the USA with Hartford Athletic, scoring twice in 15 league outings.

Evans has been tracking the youngster for some time and was pleased to get the deal over the line as the player had various options in EFL League One.

“We are delighted to have signed Ty on loan; he is an exciting prospect and I have no doubt he will fit in well with our current group,” Evans told the club website.

“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 assigned squad number 17.

Visit Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com