Gillingham sign forward Jacob Wakeling on season-long loan deal from Peterborough United

Gillingham have added to their forward department with a new loan signing.

Jacob Wakeling has joined the Gills on a season-long loan from League 1 side Peterborough United.

Wakeling, 22, has already trained with his new teammates and is set to be involved in Saturday’s friendly at Woking.

Gills boss Mark Bonner has made a number of forward additions already this summer with striker Marcus Wyllie recently joining from Enfield Town along with the addition of Elliott Nevitt.

Bonner’s also added options out wide with Aaron Rowe and Jack Nolan.

Newest addition Wakeling started out as a junior at West Brom and signed for Leicester City in 2020 after a spell with non-league Alvechurch.

He spent a season at Swindon Town during the 2022/23 campaign before a move to Peterborough last September, joining for an undisclosed fee.

He’s yet to start a game in the league for Posh with his eight League 1 appearances last season coming off the bench, without scoring.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: "I think this is a really good move for Jacob. It proved really difficult for him to get game time last season, we spoke about the fact he couldn't play in the cup, which didn't help so he couldn't get any rhythm and then he picked up an injury.

"He has come back in pre-season and looked good, he looks sharp and he has scored goals in the friendly matches. The next stage for him was to go out on loan and play regular football.

“Gillingham see him as a striker, which we feel is his best position. I think Gillingham will be around it at the top end of the division, so it makes sense for him to go there.”

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, writing on X, said: “If played down middle we think he can score plenty of goals at that level with