Manager Gareth Ainsworth says Gillingham fended off League One interest to sign Southampton goalkeeper Ollie Wright on loan after an impressive season at Accrington Stanley

The summer signing of goalkeeper Ollie Wright is a "significant coup" for Gillingham, according to manager Gareth Ainsworth.

Wright has joined Gillingham on a season-long loan from Championship side Southampton.

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The 23-year-old impressed on loan at League Two Accrington Stanley last season, picking up the players’ player and manager’s player-of-the-year awards from the 2025/26 campaign.

With a new three-year deal signed at Southampton, Wright could have stepped up his development with a move to League One but chose instead to have another season in League Two, with the Gills.

Ainsworth was pleased their hard work paid off.

“He’s a significant coup for my squad,” said the Gills boss.

“He’s one who had some serious interest in League One and we managed to convince him to come to Gillingham.”

Ainsworth’s decision to commit to a no.1 keeper from the outset, and have some younger back-ups in Taite Holtam and Lennon MacLorg, was a lure for Wright.

The Gills boss said: “I think that the game time is special and precious to him and he's one who I think can definitely play higher and will step up the levels.

“We're very lucky to have somebody of his stature and obviously there's big shoes to fill.

“Glenn Morris was a legend here and we've got to make sure that Ollie has a great platform to perform, because he's a cracking lad, and actually probably an inch bigger than I thought he was, which is definitely a nice surprise.

“When you actually meet him face to face, he's even bigger than he seems on the pitch, and on the pitch I thought he was massive! I'm really pleased with the signing of Ollie Wright.”

Wright's new deal at Southampton shows how highly the club rate him and the trust