Gillingham have added to their defensive options by bringing in experienced central defender Omar Beckles from Leyton Orient.

Beckles, 34, becomes the Gills third new signing of the January window with Cameron Antwi and Ronan Hale having arrived from Newport County and Ross County respectively within the last couple of weeks.

Beckles is an experienced campaigner who has over 450 senior appearances to his name, and has also represented Grenada on the international stage with eight caps in total.

He departs Orient having been the club’s Captain, and is also the Chair of the Professional Footballers’ Association. He won promotion to League One with the O’s in 2023. 

Beginning his career with Millwall, Omar joined Jerez Industrial before returning to the UK to play for Boreham Wood in 2011-12. Spells at Kettering, Billericay and Histon followed prior to joining St. Albans City in 2014. 

A season at Aldershot was followed by a 12-month stint at Accrington Stanley before signing for Shrewsbury Town on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee in August 2017. He played over 100 times for the Shrews before moving to Crewe Alexandra for a year in 2020.

A year on and he elected to sign for Leyton Orient where he made 200 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals.

He has been allocated squad number 39 at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.

Speaking upon his arrival, Omar said: “I am delighted to get this over the line. The Gaffer has played a big part in that and it’s an amazing project to be a part of.”

“I’ve still got that appetite and desire to want to achieve. I am really excited. I have got so much to give.”

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.