Harris arrives after sealing Gills move
- Paul Godden
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Direct, determined and driven by promotion, Kadeem Harris begins his Gills chapter with energy and intent.
Gillingham have added to their wide options with the signing of Kadeem Harris. The 33‑year‑old arrives at Priestfield on a free transfer with energy, experience and ambition after a season with Salford City.
Born in Westminster and currently valued at around £100,000, Harris brings Premier League and Championship experience, resilience and attacking intent.
Speaking to the club last week, Harris revealed a major factor in his move to Gillingham is his long‑standing relationship with Gareth Ainsworth and technical director, Richard Dobson. Harris played alongside Ainsworth earlier in his career. ‘I know the manager well. We’ve all got a really good relationship. I know the manager was a winger. He loves his wingers and I’m a winger, as you know.’
Harris sees himself as a wide player who can commit defenders, attack space and lift the crowd. He defines his game around one-v-one ability, attacking intent and energising supporters describing his playing style as ‘Very direct. I love one-v-one situations. I love to get the fans off their feet.’
Reluctant to set numerical targets, his ambitions are collective rather than individual. ‘The personal goal is to be part of a promotion team.’
Harris has played at Priestfield and remembers the atmosphere. The prospect of experiencing it as a home player excites him. ‘I played there last season and there was a really good atmosphere. I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans come out in their numbers.’
Harris made his League debut for Wycombe Wanderers aged just 16 on Boxing Day 2009, coming off the bench in a 4–0 defeat at Yeovil. His home debut at Adams Park arrived on the final day of the 2009/10 season — playing alongside Ainsworth in a 3–0 win over Gillingham in a match that saw both clubs relegated from League One.
Championship side Cardiff City signed him in January 2012, and it was during a loan spell at Brentford that he scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 win over Colchester in League One in October 2013.
On loan at Barnsley, he played against Gillingham and Bradley Dack in 2-0 League One win at Oakwell in September 2015.
Harris’ most eye‑catching spell at Cardiff came under Neil Warnock in the top‑flight. Harris made 13 Premier League appearances in 2018/19 and scored his side’s fourth goal in a 4–2 home win over Fulham in October of that season.
Although injured early in the second half, Harris started in the Cardiff team beaten 1-0 by Elliott List’s late winner at Priestfield in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2019.
With Cardiff relegated from the Premier League that season, Harris moved to Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship just days before Steve Bruce resigned to become manager at Newcastle. Harris scored for The Owls at Reading on the opening day of the 2019/20 season but could only muster three goals in 88 appearances during his two seasons at Hillsborough.
Across the Championship with Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, Harris amassed 138 appearances and eight goals.
His career then took an unusual turn in September 2021 when he joined Metalist Kharkiv in the Ukrainian second tier. Shortly after, following Russia’s attempts to invade Ukraine in February 2022, he moved to Turkey later that spring.
He returned to England with Carlisle in League Two in November 2024 scoring three goals in 31 appearances and playing in Gillingham’s visit to Brunton Park under John Coleman that ended goalless in February 2025. Despite the arrival of Mark Hughes as manager, Carlisle were relegated to the National League at the end of the season.
Harris joined Salford City in July 2025, helping them reach last season’s League Two play‑off final where they were beaten 3–0 by Notts County.
He played on the right side of an effective midfield alongside Ben Woodburn and Kallum Cesay that saw Salford win 2-1 at Priestfield in October last season and was a second half substitute for Ryan Graydon in the goalless return at The Peninsula Stadium in April.
Harris stressed how welcoming everyone has been at Priestfield from the moment he arrived. ‘The staff have been really welcoming. The stadium’s lovely. I’m just looking forward to getting started now.’
He’s eager to meet his new teammates when they return this week and admits he’s itching to get back on the grass. ‘I’ve had a good break and I’m ready to go now. I just can’t wait to get going.’ Pre‑season, he says, is all about building towards that first competitive fixture. ‘I’m looking to get as fit as possible and ready for that game and the season ahead.’
David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack.
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