Lincoln sign midfielder Jefferies after Gillingham exit

Dom Jefferies spent a year with Premier League side Brentford, but only featured for their B team

Lincoln City have signed Dom Jefferies on a two-year deal after the midfielder turned down a contract offer to stay at Gillingham.

The 22-year-old moves to the LNER Stadium as a free agent, although an undisclosed fee has been paid because he is under the age of 24.

Jefferies, who has a further two-year option on his Imps agreement, made 71 appearances in all competitions for the Gills and won the club's young player of the season award in his first season at Priestfield Stadium.

“Dom will add real strength in depth for us in midfield and is different to the other midfield players we have recruited this summer," Lincoln boss Michael Skubala told the club website.

Four of Lincoln's eight signings since missing out on a play-off spot on the final day of last term have been midfielders, with Tom Bayliss and JJ McKiernan making the move and Conor McGrandles returning for a third spell.

The Imps are the fourth club Jefferies has joined in four years since leaving Newport, with a stint with non-league club Salisbury coming before a spell on the books at Brentford and a move to Gillingham.

"He is another young player with the character and mentality we want, has the physical and technical attributes we were looking to add to the group and showed a huge desire to sign for us to trust the club with the next stage of his development," said Skubala.