Gillingham’s new manager Neil Harris has made his first signing and it’s a player he knows well.

Midfielder Ben Thompson, 26, is reunited with his former Millwall boss after agreeing to sign for Gillingham, having cancelled his contract with the London side. His Gills deal is until the end of this season.

Thompson has played just five games for Millwall this term under Gary Rowett but in previous seasons he’s been a big player, leaving the Championship club with 141 league games under his belt.

The Sidcup-born player came through the youth ranks at Millwall and in his first full season at the club he won the young player of the year and goal of the season honours.

Described by Millwall as a “livewire midfielder” he spent time at Portsmouth where he impressed, playing 23 games there on loan, before going on to become a fan favourite at the Den.

Thompson said: "I'm over the moon and with Neil coming in as manager it was a no-brainer. I jumped at the opportunity and hopefully we can have some good times at the club.

"I'm raring to go and it's a challenge to get out of the bottom four and up the league."

The Gills say he is unavailable for selection tomorrow night against Crewe.

Pompey fans were hoping they might be signing the player themselves, after making such a big impression during the first-half of the 2018/19 season while on loan at Fratton Park.

Thompson’s arrival at Priestfield could mean that Gillingham are now in a position to accept Bolton Wanderers’ bid for their captain Kyle Dempsey.