Gillingham have significantly added goals to their squad by announcing the signing of striker Ronan Hale from Ross County.

The 27 year old Northen Ireland international has signed a deal at Priestfield and could make his debut in the League Two clash against Bromley on Saturday.

Gareth Ainsworth has been tracking the signature for the forward for a number of weeks with the Scottish side believed to have already turned down two initial offers from The Gills.

However, Ainsworth now has his man and joins Cameron Antwi in joining Gillingham as they push for a League Two play-off place come the end of the current campaign.

The 27-year-old striker, who joins the Gills from Scottish Championship side Ross County for an undisclosed fee, is the club’s second new signing of the January transfer window with Cameron Antwi having moved to Medway from Newport County last week. Ronan’s deal has a club option of a further year.

Hale, who began his career with Crusaders in his native Northern Ireland, impressed to earn a move to Birmingham City where he scored 28 goals in 23 games for their u21 side. Then, the following year, for the club’s u23 team, he netted four times in 16 appearances.

He signed for Derry City on loan for a six-month period in January 2018, making his senior debut the following month. In March, his first goals came as a hat-trick as he netted three times in a 5-0 victory over Limerick. 

His loan deal with the club was extended in June 2018, allowing him to compete in the Europa League against Dinamo Minsk of Belarus. 

In January 2019, Hale’s contract at Birmingham was terminated via mutual consent and the striker moved back to Crusaders on a two-and-a-half year contract. Later that year he agreed an 18-month deal with St. Patrick’s Athletic, and he remained at the club for one year before departing for Larne who were in the Northern Ireland Premier League.

In 2021-22, Hale scored in Larne’s maiden European campaign, netting a goal in a Europa Conference League tie. In May of 2022, the striker joined Cliftonville and he scored on his debut in another Conference League tie, against FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda. 

In May 2024, which turned out to be his last game for the club, he netted twice in extra-time as Cliftonville won the Irish Cup for the first time since 1979 after defeating Linfield 3-1. 

Two months later, Hale signed a three-year deal with Ross County and went on to make 68 appearances, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. 

He made his full international debut for Northern Ireland in June 2025, starting in a 1-0 win over Iceland. He had previously played for the U19’s and U21’s, netting five goals in total across 12 fixtures. 

On making the move to Medway, Ronan said: “It’s the place I want to be to play my Football and I can’t wait to get started. I am happy to be here. 

“It’s a new challenge now which I am looking forward to. I am ready to go.”

*The move is subject to EFL ratification and international clearance

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.