Margate complete signing of Ebbsfleet midfielder Matt Johnson

Pic: Margate FC

MARGATE have completed the signing of midfielder Matt Johnson from National League South rivals Ebbsfleet United.

The 25-year-old had been on loan with the Blues since the beginning of December and impressed during his one-month spell.

Johnson joined Fleet in the summer of 2014 from Bishop’s Stortford and had also previously played for Rushden & Diamonds, Dover Athletic and Braintree Town.

He made his Margate debut against St Albans and scored his first goal for the club against Maidenhead United last week.

He will remain at Hartsdown Park permanently and has signed an 18-month contract with Nikki Bull’s side.

Boss Bull said: “It is a very important signing for us, he is a big presence for us in midfield. A lot of his work goes somewhat unnoticed but he gets around the pitch and also scores goals like we saw last week.”

Meanwhile, Margate have released midfielder Solomon Taiwo – who had struggled for game time following injury – and youngster Alex Gaggin.

Bull added: “Solomon has recently returned from injury and is fully fit but he has found game time hard to come by but his attitude has been first class. Sometimes you join a club and it just doesn’t work out, it happened to me during my career.

“Sol has a great attitude and I am sure he will move on from here and go on and have a good season but it just didn’t work out for him here.”