Gillingham have completed the signing of Watford forward Jorge Cabezas Hurtado on a six-month loan deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The Colombian under-20 international was unveiled as a Gills player following official confirmation from the club’s official website. Hurtado played the first half of the season on loan at Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls before completing his loan move to Priestfield.
In the 2023 summer window, the 20-year-old joined Watford from Colombian side Real Cartagena on a six-year deal until 2029, according to Transfermarkt. The forward has seen little playing time at Vicarage Road since his transfer, making just one senior appearance for the Hornets in December 2023.
The 20-year-old is Stephen Clemence’s second attacking signing of the winter window following the arrival of Josh Walker on loan from Burton Albion. Both Walker and Hurtado come as replacements for joint-top goalscorer Macauley Bonne, who departed Priestfield for League One Cambridge United.
Gillingham are currently 10th in League Two and just two points off the play-off places. Clemence’s side are unbeaten in four of their last five league matches and have scored just six goals in their last eight games.
Writer’s View
Gillingham have clearly looked to strengthen in the attacking areas during this window. The Kent side are among the lowest scorers in League Two with 25 goals in 28 matches and Clemence will be hopeful the likes of Hurtado and Walker can ease the scoring pressure off Connor Mahoney and Scott Malone, who have four goals each for the Gills this season.
This will be a big test for the young Colombian, whose only previous senior appearance in English football came late on in an FA Cup tie with Chesterfield. However, even in that short cameo, he showed potential, notching an assist for Tom Dele-Bashiru’s winner in the 2-1 victory.
