Exclusive: Gillingham, Burton Albion & Cambridge United in transfer race for 24-goal striker | OneFootball

Gillingham, Burton and Cambridge are all chasing 24-goal sensation Ruben Bartlett-Antwi, FLW understands.

Gillingham, Burton Albion and Cambridge United are all chasing the signature of 24-goal sensation Ruben Bartlett-Antwi, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

The 21-year-old turns out for Isthmian League South Central Division side Leatherhead FC.

Gillingham are heading into their first summer transfer window with Gareth Ainsworth in charge, and will be looking to compete in the top-half of League Two next season.

Meanwhile, joining them in the fourth tier will be Cambridge United, as their 23rd-placed finish brought to an end their four-season stay League One level.

As for Burton Albion, the Brewers narrowly avoided the same fate as Cambridge, with the December appointment of Gary Bowyer springing a second-half of the season fightback which saw them finish one point above the drop zone.

Gillingham, Burton and Cambridge all chasing Leatherhead FC marksman Ruben Bartlett-Antwi

Football League World has exclusively been informed that Gillingham, Cambridge and Burton are all battling to sign Leatherhead FC striker Ruben Bartlett-Antwi.

The 21-year-old bagged 21 goals and 17 assists for the Surrey-based Step 4 side in 2024/25, exploits which have seen him capture the attention of a host of EFL sides.

Bartlett-Antwi is the son of England Under-19 coach Will Antwi, and now looks set for a dream move to the professional ranks of English football this summer.

The young centre-forward joined Leatherhead in November last year from Isthmian League North Division side Basildon United, where he'd scored nine goals in 19 appearances at the start of the season.

Before signing for Basildon, he'd scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for Essex Senior League side West Essex, and has also enjoyed spells with Haringey Borough and FC Romania respectively.

Ruben Bartlett-Antwi could be a low-risk, high-reward signing for any of Cambridge, Burton or Gillingham

Bartlett-Antwi has certainly proven himself as being a rapidly developing and hungry young striker at Step 4 level this season.

41 direct goal contributions is a superb return, and with age and time still firmly on his side, it may just be a case of refining his all-round game to match his natural goalscoring ability for whichever team takes a punt on him.

Obviously, making the leap up to League Two or potentially even League One level this summer would be a hugely significant one, and perhaps a loan move away or spending the 2025/26 season playing EFL academy football would be the plan.

When scouting for a striker in non-league football, every club in English football is looking for the next Jamie Vardy, and judging by some of his finishes this season, comparisons will no doubt be made to the Leicester City legend.

Therefore, Gillingham, Cambridge, Burton or whichever EFL club potentially lands his signature this summer, could reap some huge rewards in the future for taking a chance on the young Leatherhead marksman.