Gillingham sign Ronan Hale from Scottish side Ross County on a two-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee

Gillingham have finally completed a deal to sign international striker Ronan Hale.

The Northern Ireland striker joins the Gills for an undisclosed fee from Scottish Championship side Ross County.

The Gills had a couple of bids rejected before finally getting their man. Hale has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Priestfield.

Hale is set to join the Gills for training on Thursday morning and will already know a few of his new team-mates, having known Remeao Hutton and Josh Andrews from his time at Birmingham and Conor Masterson at international level.

Hale said: "It's the place I want to be to play my Football and I can't wait to get started. I am happy to be here.

"It's a new challenge now, which I am looking forward to. I am ready to go.

“When I spoke to the gaffer, it was more the talk around the project of getting the club back up the leagues [that attracted me] and that’s something that I am excited to be part of and hopefully I can add my bit to it.

“(The Gills manager) has said he has been watching me for a while and is looking forward to working with me. He was buzzing.

“I feel it was time to move on and try and better myself, and try and score goals in different leagues. I had a great 18 months [at Ross County] but I am happy to not be here now.”

Describing himself, he said: “I just love scoring goals – I am a striker, and if we win, I am buzzing, but disappointed if I am not scoring. I will work my socks off and do what I can for the team.

“Scoring goals is the best feeling in the world and as you go up the levels it gets even sweeter. I am looking forward to going out there and hopefully I can get my first goal soon.”

The 27-year-old was born in Belfast and played locally before a move to England, where