Bradley Dack has committed his future to League Two side Gillingham, signing a new one-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2026.
The 31-year-old playmaker returned to the club last year after a turbulent spell in the Championship, and is now determined to make his second stint in Kent a success.
Back Where He Started
Dack first made his name with the Gills before earning a big-money move to Blackburn Rovers in 2017. He went on to score 46 league goals in 150 appearances for the Lancashire side, before joining Sunderland in 2023. However, injury setbacks hampered his time in the North East and ultimately led to his return to Gillingham, where he hoped to rediscover his love for the game.
His 2024/25 campaign began slowly, with injuries and managerial changes limiting his impact. Dack managed just one substitute appearance in the opening four months of the season, but began featuring more regularly from December onwards. His first league start came away at AFC Wimbledon near the end of the calendar year, and his breakthrough moment arrived with a late winner at home to MK Dons.
Difficult Gillingham Spell
Reflecting on his difficult spell under Gillingham’s former manager, Dack revealed frustrations about his lack of opportunities.
“Things didn’t work out under the last manager, for me personally… We disagreed on certain things and sometimes you can’t get on with everyone,” he said. “I felt like I could make a big impact in the team. I wasn’t obviously given a chance to.”
The experienced midfielder made it clear that he had been fit since the start of December and was eager to play his part.
“I won’t get onto stuff that’s gone on at the football club, but it’s been difficult for everyone. Hopefully, this is a new start and we can finish these last four games off nicely and go into next year on a real high.”
With Gareth Ainsworth now in charge, Dack will be hoping for a much smoother season in 2025/26. Gillingham will also hope that the former EFL Player of the Year can finally stay injury-free and provide a creative spark in midfield.
Writer’s View
This feels like a low-risk, high-upside move for both club and player. Bradley Dack has shown in glimpses that he remains capable of match-winning contributions at League Two level, and with a full pre-season under his belt, he could yet become a central figure in Gareth Ainsworth’s plans.
While past injuries and frustrations are part of the story, the talent is still there—and if he can stay fit, Gillingham may have pulled off one of the most important re-signings of their summer.
