Gillingham defender Sam Gale has left the club to join League One Barnsley Town for an undisclosed fee.

Gale will be a big loss for Gills supporters, but will go with their best wishes ‘as one of their own’.

It has been a tough decision to leave for Gale, who has played over sixty times in the first team since making his debut at the club, but he leaves to pursue an opportunity further up the football league.

The 21-year-old defender leaves MEMS Priestfield Stadium following nearly a decade in Medway.

The centre-back came through the club’s academy and made his first-team debut at 17 years old, replacing Dan Phillips in a home game against Cheltenham in November 2021. 

He went on to have loan spells at Sheppey United and Hastings United before establishing himself as a first-team regular in early 2025, having been recalled from a productive loan spell at Chelmsford over the Christmas period. 

In total he made 67 appearances for the Gills, scoring his one and only goal against Crewe in August 2025 to secure a dramatic late win.

His final competitive appearance was the final game of last season, starting as Gills defeated Shrewsbury 1-0 at ME7.

Speaking having signed for Barnsley, Gale said: “It’s such a good opportunity, it’s one I couldn’t turn down. I want to be here, I want to get to work.”