Gillingham sign defender Conor McManus from Brentford for an undisclosed fee

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth has boosted his defensive options just five days before the start of the new season.

The Gills have completed the signing of defender Conor McManus from Premier League Brentford for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old joined Brentford in December 2022 from Bray Wanderers. A left-back by trade, he can play anywhere across the back line.

"I am delighted to be here, it is somewhere I want to be and I'm looking forward to the season ahead,” McManus told Gills TV.

"I am energetic, willing to work hard and am young and hungry. It's a really good group of lads and I'm ready to go. This is probably, physically, the best I have felt going into any season."

The arrival of former Republic of Ireland under-21 international McManus comes just days after highly-rated defender Sam Gale was sold to League 1 Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.

Ainsworth has reshaped his squad this summer with the additions of Liam Gordon (Motherwell), Zane Albarus (Brighton), James Brophy (Cambridge), Will Goodwin (Oxford), Nick Freeman (Shrewsbury), Samuel Tabares (Southampton) and keepers Ollie Wright (Southampton) and Lennon MacLorg (Charlton).

Gillingham start their campaign at home to League 1 Luton in the first round of the Carabao Cup this Saturday (3pm) before hosting Walsall in their first League 2 match of the season seven days later.