Maidstone United sign striker Hady Ghandour following his departure from Charlton Athletic

Striker Hady Ghandour has returned to National League new boys Maidstone after leaving Charlton.

Ghandour had two loan spells at the Gallagher last season and has now agreed a permanent deal.

The Lebanon international, 22, struck in the win against Chelmsford that clinched the National South title and scored his second Stones goal two days later at Welling.

Manager Hakan Hayrettin had been hoping to do a deal and Maidstone were Ghandour’s first choice after Charlton announced they would be releasing him.

“I’m very happy to get this over the line,” said Ghandour.

“It was always in my mind since I finished last season, it was just whether the gaffer and Terry (Harris, assistant boss) wanted to keep me on and thankfully they did.

“I enjoyed every minute of my spell there, the boys were unbelievable, the fans were unbelievable.

“It was always the first option in my head because I had known towards the end of last season I wasn’t going to stay at Charlton.

“I knew two days before the Chelmsford game I would be leaving Charlton, and I responded with a goal against Chelmsford and a goal against Welling, so it fired me up a bit.”

Ghandour is Maidstone's second summer signing, following the arrival of Sol Wanjau-Smith from Hungerford earlier this month.

Read more from Hady Ghandour on KentOnline on Thursday.