Sutton United Football can confirm the departure of Ashley Nadesan, who joins Worthing on loan until the end of the season.
The Rebels currently sit third in the National League South with a six-point gap to league leaders Dorking Wanderers, and will be aiming to bolster their ranks with Nadesan’s host of experience in an attempt to keep tabs on the title race ahead of this Saturday’s clash with Chelmsford City.
Nadesan’s switch to Worthing sees him become the tenth first team player to depart on a temporary basis this season, eight of which, including the 31-year old, are plying their trade in the National League South, with almost all of them involved in the promotion hunt in some capacity having joined clubs within in the top nine – the only exceptions being Eduino Vaz and Nana Boateng at Hampton & Richmond Borough.
He also reunites with former First Team Coach, Jon Meeney, who returned to Woodside Park alongside Adam Hinshewood back in October, along with former U Harry Ransom, with whom he played alongside at both Crawley Town and Sutton.
The forward’s move to Sussex comes as a result of limited game time in recent weeks, last starting in the 1-1 draw with Braintree Town last month, and has since played just 124 minutes across the last seven games.
He has so far scored five goals this season in all competitions as well as contributing three assists, including crucial strikes against AFC Telford United, Morecambe and Brackley Town, having previously scored in defeats against Altrincham and Brighton & Hove Albion to begin his first season as a permanent Sutton player, having signed following a successful loan spell last term.
Prior to this, Nadesan had first come to attention while playing for Horley Town in the Combined Counties League, scoring nearly 100 goals in two seasons and earning a move to Fleetwood Town at the end of the 2015/16 season, going on to make over 20 League One appearances for the Fisherman across a three-year stint, which included two successful loan spells at Carlisle United.
He was an ever-present during his stint in Cumbria, before departing Fleetwood at the end of the 2018/19 season to join Crawley Town, where he played over 150 games across the next four seasons, notably scoring in the Red Devils’ televised 3-0 FA Cup win over then-Premier League side Leeds Unitred in January 2021, and he otherwise contributed to 55 goals during his stint at the Broadfield Stadium, before joining Gillingham in July 2023.
This was followed by a temporary stint at Sutton, notching 16 goal contributions which included late winners against Ebbsfleet United, Southend United and Rochdale and a Goal of the Season nomination against AFC Fylde, before agreeing to make the move permanent following his release from Gillingham the previous month.
Nadesan now returns to Sussex though with a move to Worthing, joining the Rebels and their promotion chase until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Good luck, Naders!
