Defender John Egan’s summer move from Gillingham to Brentford was confirmed on Friday.

The Championship club announced that Egan had signed a three-year deal at Griffin Park after turning down a new deal at Gills.

They also confirmed that the two clubs are still to agree on a transfer fee, stating that talks are “continuing”.

Egan played 92 league games for Gills in two seasons after leaving Sunderland and was the subject of interest from Brentford in the January transfer window.

Brentford boss Dean Smith said: “John is someone we believe can come in and challenge for a place in the team.

“I watched him a lot when he was at Sunderland and when he went out on loan. He is a proper centre-back and has a hunger to keep the ball out of the net.

“He is a good defender and a good footballer as well. He is also a leader and we want to keep adding leaders to the squad.”

The 23-year-old defender told the Brentford website that his heart was set on a move to west London.

“I knew all along that I would go to Gillingham for two years and I believed in myself that I could get a move to the next level,” said Egan.

“Brentford came in for me and, as soon as they did, there was only one place that I was going to go. I am delighted to be here now. Everything about the club sold it to me.

“They have had two good seasons in the Championship and I know Dean from his time at Walsall and playing against his teams. I love the way that he wants to play and I believe that there is a really good core of players here who will help me to step up my game.

“There is going to be improvement in me until the day that I retire and I always want to improve. I believe in myself and going to Gillingham from Sunderland I had to do it the hard way. I am on the way back up now and hopefully I can show everybody what I am about.”