Joe Gbode’s name might not be splashed across headlines just yet, but Gillingham’s next move with him could say everything about their long-term ambition.
The 19-year-old forward is attracting interest from League One clubs, including newly relegated Luton Town, and the Medway club now face a pivotal call: keep a talented prospect in the hope of a breakout season, or cash in before he’s fully bloomed.
The Talent Is Undeniable
Anyone who’s watched Gbode closely over the past 18 months has seen flashes of something genuine. He’s not the finished article, far from it, but there’s movement, awareness, and instinct in the final third that marks him out from the average teenager thrown into senior football too soon.
His physicality is improving, he’s become more decisive in one-v-one scenarios, and there’s a sharpness to his play that suggests he belongs at a higher level. Gillingham know this. It’s why he’s featured more heavily in pre-season and why they’re reportedly placing a high valuation on his head.
The challenge is that talent without opportunity is wasted. And in recent seasons, Gillingham have not exactly built a reputation for nurturing attacking youth into regular starters. That has to change, whether Gbode stays or not.
Interest From Above: A Compliment and a Challenge
Luton Town are said to be keeping tabs on Gbode, and while they’re still recalibrating in League One after a dramatic tumble from the Premier League, they’re a club with resources and a track record of player development. From a career perspective, it would be hard to argue against a move.
But for Gillingham, this is more than just weighing up a transfer fee. This is about identity and intent. Sell a teenage striker now, before he’s had the chance to start ten consecutive games in League Two, and it sends a message, one that says short-term gain matters more than long-term potential.
If the club really see Gbode as a future starter, they must treat him like one. Not in three months, not next year. Now. That means minutes. That means faith.
What Would Selling Say About the Model?
Every club talks about sustainability, but few truly walk that line. Selling a 19-year-old striker to a bigger club is often framed as smart business, especially if there’s a sell-on clause, future fees, or bonus structure involved. But that only holds up if the money is reinvested effectively or the pathway below him is ready to provide a replacement.
If Gillingham sell Gbode and bring in a 28-year-old journeyman on a short-term deal, they’ve gained very little. The same mistake was made by clubs like Oldham and Colchester in years past, giving up on long-term assets for immediate patches. The result? A spiral of short-termism that does nothing for fan connection or on-pitch cohesion.
Retaining a player like Gbode, even if he’s not scoring regularly yet, builds something more than just minutes and goals. It builds trust in the project.
He Needs a Run And a Role
Perhaps the biggest danger in this saga is indecision. It’s not enough to simply say “we’re keeping him” if he’s going to sit on the bench or be deployed out of position when the team’s chasing a late goal.
Gbode needs a clear role, consistent starts, and the opportunity to fail safely. If he’s viewed as a backup option behind more experienced forwards, his development will stall. But if he’s treated as a genuine first-team member with the tools to grow, Gillingham may reap the benefits in goals, points and eventually a much larger fee.
And let’s not pretend League Two is an easy environment for young forwards. The physicality, the pressure, and the lack of time on the ball make it a graveyard for many promising strikers. That’s precisely why the ones who make it are so valuable. If Gbode is already attracting interest now, his ceiling could be higher than anyone at Gillingham realises.
This Is About More Than One Player
In many ways, the Gbode situation is a litmus test. Do Gillingham back themselves to develop and retain young players who can drive a promotion charge? Or do they become a club where potential always walks out the door too soon?
There’s no perfect answer. Every club at this level has to sell. But timing matters. Selling before a player has even had a full season of consistent starts says more about fear than vision.
Hold onto him, give him the platform, and even if he leaves in twelve months, the valuation will likely be higher and the club’s identity stronger.
Final Word
Gillingham are at a crossroads. They have a raw but promising forward in Joe Gbode, interest from above, and a decision to make that will reverberate beyond this transfer window. Letting him go now might balance the books in the short term, but keeping him could build something much more valuable — belief.
