Transfer Deadline Day: Former Crawley Town striker joins Mansfield Town from Gillingham

The 30-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with the club. Nichols began his career as an Academy graduate at Exeter City, where he went on to net 35 goals in 75 first team starts.

Following a successful start to his professional career at St James Park, the striker joined Peterborough United, playing 58 times and scoring a further 14 goals for The Posh.

In the summer of 2017, the attacker joined Bristol Rovers where he made 117 appearances for the Sky Bet League One side.

The frontman then landed a move to Sky Bet League Two outfit Crawley Town. Nichols finished 2020-21 as the Red Devils’ Player of the Season. In March of the same campaign, the striker recorded the league’s Goal of the Month award for a strike against Tranmere Rovers.

Nichols notched 29 goals in 109 appearances at Crawley before being subject to a move to Gillingham in January 2023.

On his latest signing, manager Nigel Clough said: “Tom is a proven goalscorer and goal maker at this level and I’m sure our supporters will know him from doing well against us in the last few seasons.“He is someone who we’ve been interested in for quite a while but never quite managed to secure until now.

“We think he’ll fit in very well with our style of play. He’s an intelligent player and can come off the strikers or play right up there.

“The most important part is that he wanted to come here, and we’re delighted to have him on board.”