Folkestone have pulled off a major signing with the addition of former Football League striker Joe Pigott.

Pigott, 31, arrives at Cheriton Road after leaving League 1 Leyton Orient at the end of last season.

The move sees him reunited with Invicta boss Jay Saunders, who managed the ex-Charlton, AFC Wimbledon and Ipswich striker at his hometown club Maidstone.

Pigott could make his debut when unbeaten Folkestone face Whitehawk at their temporary Hartsdown Park home on Saturday (3pm).

After that, he faces a reunion with Maidstone in the FA Cup second qualifying round, a tie that will be played at Chatham Town next Friday (8pm).

“I’m delighted to bring Joe to the club,” Saunders told the Folkestone website.

“He’s obviously someone I’ve known for a long time and worked with before at Maidstone.

“We’ve kept in contact ever since and have been speaking frequently throughout the summer.

“The opportunity came up to get him in and he was keen to come down.

“Pigs is a very good player and a very good person.

“He joined up with the lads in training this week and has fitted in really well.

“He’s someone that will add a lot to the group we’ve got already.

“He’s got experience but is still at a good age.

“He’ll also be a big help to the younger forwards we’ve got, which is a massive bonus for us.”

Pigott’s career took off after linking up with Saunders at Maidstone in the second half of the 2016/17 National League season.

He joined from Cambridge, initially on loan, before signing a permanent deal that summer.

Saunders got the best out of the forward and his form at the Gallagher - 18 goals in 47 appearances - secured a return to the Football League with AFC Wimbledon in 2018.

His career went from strength to strength with the Dons, scoring 58 goals in 194 games across two spells, including the first goal at the new Plough Lane.

His second stint with Wimbledon came on loan from Leyton Orient last season as Johnnie Jackson’s side won promotion to League 1 via the play-offs.

A decade earlier, while on loan at Southend from Charlton, Pigott scored the equaliser in added time of extra time in the League 2 play-off final against Wycombe at Wembley.

He then converted the first penalty in the shoot-out as the Shrimpers triumphed on penalties to reach League 1.

Pigott also spent time on loan at Gillingham in his Charlton days and was loaned out to Portsmouth for a season while with Ipswich.